Post-match reaction: EMMET MALONEhears the manager attribute the surprising defeat to pre-season syndrome

NORMALLY A master of the upbeat post-match press conference, Giovanni Trapattoni found it hard enough to look on the bright side after last night’s defeat at Thomond Park.

“It was a severe lesson for us,” admitted the Italian before acknowledging, perhaps for the first time really, that central midfield had been a problem area for his side although he insisted that the situation will improve once the English season gets under way.

“I knew before the game that some players could only play their best for 20 minutes,” he said.

“I can’t say the names but you know, we lost the midfield, they (the Australians) were superior in midfield but I’m not worried because I know that with four or five club games these players can improve their performance.”

The manager drew some consolation from what he regarded to have been a stronger showing by his players in the second half.

The greater fitness and physical strength of Ireland’s opponents proved to be a key factor, though, in a game which the Australians effectively wrapped up thanks to two Tim Cahill goals in the seven minutes before the break.

“I think the first half Australia deserved to win,” Trapattoni observed. “But we had a great opportunity for Robbie Keane and maybe if we had scored that time then it might have changed the result. But Australia deserved the result.

“But a few of our players had played only a few times before this game and before tonight I asked myself how many can play 90 minutes and produce a good performance.

“It’s not so surprising,” he continued. “Many times I’ve seen this situation and in the dressing room afterwards I’ve said to the players ‘Okay, sometimes in pre-season this is what happens. They reach their limit, some players are not 100 per cent and so it’s normal that you lose’.”

When pressed about Gibson’s chances of retaining his place in the starting line up for the game against Cyprus in Nicosia next month, the manager made a show of declining to be drawn but still came very close to confirming that Keith Andrews will return.

“Gibson played maybe 20 games but only 45 minutes each time,” he said. “I wanted to look at my options tonight and I think that Gibson can be important for us in the future but we will see.

“But the real problem tonight was that we were not compact,” he added. “Before, I have spoken about how we have made the little mistakes but tonight we were not compact in the way we had been in Bulgaria. We game them space and so we conceded goals.”

His opposite number, Pim Verbeek, didn’t disagree.

The Dutchman expressed satisfaction with the team’s victory and hailed Cahill’s contribution but also admitted that the margin of the win was a little bit generous.

“I didn’t think the result was a surprise because we played well,” he said. “We were winning most of the first balls and the second balls too so defensively we were in control.

“We showed that we could play football, that we work hard as a group and I’m very happy with that but sure, I think 3-0 is too much. The third goal was a fantastic goal but it wasn’t a chance.

“Ireland, on the other hand, created chances, especially Robbie Keane.

“We had to make changes to our back four so I’m very happy with the way we defended, particularly after we took the lead.

“Of course it’s easier to defend when you are 2-0 ahead than when you are having to attack at 2-0 behind but still, we did well.

“ Ireland are a good team and I leave very happy with this win as the first part of our preparations for the World Cup.”

As he left he wished his hosts good luck next month in Cyprus. Another performance like this, and they might be in need of it.