O'Neill: Ireland must go for win
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Martin O'Neill says the Republic of Ireland will go for victory in Monday's UEFA EURO 2016 playoff second leg against Bosnia-Herzegovina after scoring a crucial away goal in Zenica on Friday night. Robbie Brady's 82nd minute strike was cancelled out by Edin Dzeko's sharp finish three minutes later to share the spoils in the fog-covered Bilina Polje stadium. It leaves the tie on a knife edge ahead of Monday's clash at Dublin's Lansdowne Road, but Republic of Ireland boss O'Neill has no intention of sitting on his side's narrow lead.
"The onus is on us now, we have to try and win as I feel Bosnia are capable of scoring a goal and therefore our mindset should be to try and win the game," he said. "I don't think we can sit (back). We were away against a good Bosnia side and the crowd but we will attempt to attack more in the second game. I would have taken 1-1 before, the away goal helps but it can be wiped out in any given minute. I don't think the advantage is with us as Bosnia are capable of scoring a goal. We will have to play very, very well but we have given ourselves a chance."
As the weather conditions deteriorated after the restart, O'Neill insists he was concerned the game may have been called off. The Republic of Ireland boss admitted he barely saw Brady's goal -- but he saw enough to praise his men's fighting spirit on a night where the hosts displayed most of the attacking intent.
"Yes, I was concerned the game would be called off, the fog came down and it looked as if it was deepening in the second half for a period of time. What I didn't know was if the game was called off we'd have to come back for the rest of the game (on Saturday). But the fog did not get any worse after 15 minutes of the second half and if the ref saw fit to start the second half, he obviously saw fit to keep it going.
"I'd a very foggy view of our goal," he added, "I haven't seen it back since but I think he did very well to come back in (and shoot). He is very modest but it was a great boost for us to get that goal and it keeps us alive and keeps us going."
O'Shea on the comeback trail
O'Neill is optimistic veteran defender John O'Shea will be fit to return to the starting lineup on Monday, while he added that Southampton striker Shane Long had not yet ruled himself out. Bosnia-Herzegovina boss Mehmed Bazdarevic claims his side were deserted by lady luck on the night -- with poor finishing and worse weather to blame for the draw.
"We're a little disappointed, I think we showed lots of desire," he said. "We started well, but we could not score. The result is unfavourable, but the chances are still there. The fog was an aggravating factor in our selection. We saw almost nothing from the sidelines, so it was difficult to give some advice.
"I'm not looking for any excuses, though, we had more to give. We had no luck in the first half and if we had scored it would be a different second match. It did not work as intended, but all is not lost. We have the strength and quality of the fight to win the second leg."