Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan hopes that Russia are panicking when they travel to Dublin for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifier.
Whelan’s Ireland top Group B after beating Andorra 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening, right on the back of their next opponents Russia losing 1-0 at home to Slovakia, who a- like Ireland - now have six points from six.
Ireland play in Slovakia on October 12 and before that have another massive game against the Russians in Dublin, and Whelan hopes the pressure on the Russians after Tuesday’s reverse will benefit the Boys in Green.
“Hopefully there is a little bit more pressure on Russia now coming over to us because their next game is massive after a defeat,” the Stoke City midfielder said after playing an hour of the game against Andorra (with the game won he was then taken off as a yellow card would have seen him suspended against Russia).
“I think it’s going to be tough. They have some great individuals and are a good team but we just need to worry about ourselves and hopefully we can put in the performance to get the right result.”
Whelan was pleased that Ireland came through their games against Armenia and Andorra with a full haul of points and also praised the showing of Aiden McGeady against Andorra as the Spartak Moscow man caused the minnows problems throughout.
“We set out to get six points and do as well as we can and I think we have done that,” Whelan continued.
“The goal at the end of the first half unnerved us a little bit but we came out in the second half and gave a professional performance.
“You can only beat the team that is in front of you. No disrespect to Andorra, but these are the games that we have to win. I think at times we cruised a little bit but we were professional in the second half. I think they were playing 4-5-1 and that’s always hard to break down.
“I think Aiden was on top form tonight and he caused chaos and having a player to break them down and do that always helps.”
Kevin Kilbane and Kevin Doyle had given Ireland a 2-0 lead, but there was a brief moment of panic when Christian Martinez pulled one back just before the break. Whelan says that manager Giovanni Trapattoni was calm at the interval though and Robbie Keane’s 54th minute goal then killed off Andorra.
“He’s the coolest man I know, Whelan said of the Italian manager. “He came in and obviously we were disappointed that they scored early on but we knew we had another 45 minutes to go and the early goal in the second half took the nerves away.”