Shane Duffy: 'It's down to us and we need to improve'

Andrew Dempsey reports from the Aviva Stadium

Following the Republic of Ireland’s disappointing home defeat to a Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey-less Wales, Shane Duffy cut a disconsolate figure speaking to the media at the Aviva Stadium.

“There’s obvious disappointment in the dressing room,” the Brighton and Hove Albion defensive mainstay said.

“We set out to win the game and I thought we had the better chances of the game, but they managed to punish us with a free kick and we couldn’t get back in the game.”

As the game drew to a close, the Boys in Green threw caution into the wind in order to level proceedings, but it was not to be as Ryan Giggs’ exuberant Welsh charges held firm.

Throwing bodies forward left gaping holes left in defence, which could have easily seen Wales grab one or two more in front of their joyous travelling support.

“We opened up and threw everything at it which left a lot of gaps at the back and they got us on the counter attack a few times.

“Thankfully they didn’t manage to punish us with more goals, but we still didn’t get the result we wanted.”

This defeat for the Republic of Ireland means that Martin O’Neill’s side have failed to win a home competitive clash since October 2017.

Commenting on his sides’ lack of form at the Dublin 4 venue, Duffy remarked that both he, and his teammates need to pick themselves up for the upcoming UEFA Nations League clash against Denmark in November.



“It’s not been good enough for us and the standards that we set and where we’ve been over the last few years so it’s a bit of a low at the minute. We just have to goa and pick ourselves up and regroup.”

Asked about the future of the much-criticised management double act of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane, Duffy said that there needs to be a collective responsibility at the feet of the players instead of the criticism attached to the management.

“It’s us out there isn’t it? As players we need to take responsibility,” Duffy said.

“They tell us what to do and it’s up to us what to do on the pitch. We need to take responsibility and put things right, so I wouldn’t blame them.

“It’s down to us and we need to improve.”