Montenegro 0 Republic of Ireland 0:Giovanni Trapattoni's stamp on the Republic of Ireland side was there for all to see this evening when his team earned a thoroughly deserved 0-0 draw in stiflingly hot conditions against a much-lauded Montenegro side. The result leaves the Italian's side two points adrift of his compatriots who secured a 2-0 win over Georgia courtesy of Daniele De Rossi brace in Udine.

The Italian is consistently asking for improvement and, after a win in over Georgia in no man's land at the weekend, his men produced a display of calm, controlled aggression that, if replicated throughout the campaign, will make them very hard to beat away from home.

After getting the all clear to partake, Stephen Reid was once again to the fore with midfield partner Glenn Whelan economical and efficient for 90 minutes. As expected against a side with plenty of technical ability going forward, the defence was tested, and all five were excellent. Finnan, in particular, undoubtedly impressed any curious Espanyol fans who happened to tune in, while John O'Shea and Richard Dunne served further notice of a growing understanding.

Shay Given was forced into saves and answered all that was asked of him, while in attack the game could have been won had Aiden McGeady kept a cooler head or the set-piece delivery been better.

In a white hot atmosphere, the home side began brightly and threatened through Mirko Vucinic, who forced Given to parry around his near post. From the ensuing corner Jovanovic was gifted a free header when Whelan misjudged his leap, but the defender guided his effort wide of the post.

Ireland looked disjointed in the early exchanges and struggled to put passes together. In defence, however, Trapattoni's men looked assured under pressure and made certain that Montenegro's possession counted for as little as possible.

Early intricacy was soon replaced by speculative efforts from distance as O'Shea and Dunne stifled the creative efforts of Steven Jovetic and Vucinic, in particular.

Little was finding its way in behind either but there was a scare five minutes from the break when Kevin Kilbane's slip afforded Montenegro an opportunity, but O'Shea blocked brilliantly as Fiorentina's Jovetic unleashed a shot from just inside the box.

Up front, Robbie Keane worked hard and wingers McGeady and Stephen Hunt were more miserly in possession than they were against Georgia in Mainz, but ultimately created little in the opening half, at least.

Doyle did his level best to hold the play up and in one such instance won a free-kick on the left of the box. Hunt's delivery found the head of the Kilbane, who in turn found the arm of Radoslav Batak, but penalty appeals were more in hope than expectation.

Another claim, however, looked much more worthy of a shout in the dying minutes of the half when Hunts cross was initially controlled on the chest by Batak. The big defender then slipped and steadied himself by way of handling the ball on the ground before scrambling it clear with his right boot.

There were furious appeals from Robbie Keane but Estonian referee Sten Kaldma, who could not be accused of favouring the homeside, was not interested and blew up for halftime soon afterwards.

Montenegro failed to repeat their start to the first half after the break and after some good spells of Irish possession, Keane reminded his hosts he was still around with a brilliant first time turn and shot that forced a frantic parry from Poleksic.

Vucinic was given his first sight at goal on the hour when Dunne conceded a free-kick within range, but the Roma striker struck his shot harmlessly over the bar.

Milorad Pekovic was the first to see yellow when tackling Doyle from behind and McGeady's delivery broke to Whelan but his deft touch over the onrushing defender wasn't matched by the shot.

Ireland slowly began to dictate the pace the game and though he was culpable of conceding possession at times, Hunt's industry was rewarded with a sight of goal. His shot was was tame in the end, though he did well to redirect Doyle's effort goalwards.

Montenegro still posed a danger, of course, and soon afterwards, Vucinic rolled Kilbane in the box only to be denied by Given. The goalkeeper then offered further proof that his manager's recent plaudits were fully merited when scrambling to get his fingertips to a deflected Jovetic shot.

It was a brilliant save and would have been all the more valuable had McGeady made the most of the space he found himself in moments later, but the Celtic wnger shot poorly wide when he found himself within sight of goal thanks to a well plotted pass out wide from Keane.

In contrast to most aspects of this Irish performance, the quality of the attacking set-plays was consistently disappointing, both in delivery and design. After some poor deliveries and with five minutes to go,  Hunt opted to feed Finnan rather than to put the ball into the box and another opportunity was lost.

There was still a chance for the substitute Simon Vukcevic to grab the points when Reid slipped on the edge of the box but the Sporting Lisbon player dragged his shot wide.

The final whistle sounded soon after. Trapattoni's men may have sneaked it had they been more wily in the final third but they can be very happy with a fourth point from a possible six so early in the campaign.

Montenegro : Poleksic, Pavicevic, Batak, Tanasijevic, Jovanovic, Drincic, Pekovic, Zverotic, Jovetic, Vladimir Bozovic (Vukcevic 55), Vucinic. Subs: Mladen Bozovic,  Pejovic, Burzanovic, Jeknic, Novakovic, Djalovic, Vukcevic.

Rep of Ireland: Given, Finnan, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Steven Reid, Hunt, Doyle, Keane. Subs: Kiely, Andy Reid, Miller, McShane, Delaney, Keogh, Murphy.