ALTHOUGH DISAPPOINTED with the concession of a late equaliser last night, Seamus Coleman says the Republic of Ireland have to be ‘positive’ heading into Monday’s Euro 2016 play-off second leg against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Robbie Brady’s 82nd minute strike fired the Boys in Green ahead in Zenica but, three minutes later, Edin Džeko fired home an equaliser.
Brady’s away goal could be priceless for Ireland ahead of Monday’s return leg at a sell-out Aviva Stadium.
“We probably would have taken a 1-1 draw (before the game) with the away goal,” Coleman said.
“Don’t get me wrong, we’re not overly-disappointed and we have to be positive going into Monday but we’re slightly disappointed to concede so soon after scoring.
They are a threat and they have got good players so we have to prepare again, get the bodies right and look forward to Monday.
“You have to defend well when you come away to difficult places like this and I thought the two centre-halves did that and gave us a platform to go on and score the goal so it’s just a pity we conceded.”
The Belini Polje stadium was engulfed with fog for the second half last night and there were real fears that German referee Felix Brych would stop the play.
“It was very difficult. In the second half when we went out it just kept getting worse and worse,” Coleman said.
“Where I was, in the right-back position, it was quite difficult to see the far side of the pitch.
“I’m just glad the game didn’t have to stop, because it was quite bad.
“It was quite difficult to see. It’s something you are not up against all the time. But we got the away goal and we are happy with that.
“I just about saw Robbie’s goal. It was a great goal from Robbie. He’s got that ability. He’s chopped inside the lad and he’s given the keeper the eyes.
“Robbie has that in the locker and hopefully we can see that again.”
The Killybegs man was tasked with curbing the influence of Lazio’s Senad Lulic, which restricted his own attacking influence on the game.
Coleman missed out on a place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for Euro 2012 and the Everton man doesn’t want to be absent from France next summer.
“I’d be gutted,” he said. “I don’t want to finish without playing for Ireland at a big tournament.
“I’m playing but I’m a fan, and I want my friends to be out there supporting me, my town to be supporting me and it’s something that I want to do.”
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