European Qualifier
07.09.1999 at 19:00 - Ta’Qali Stadium Malta
Rchard Dunne and Stephen McPhail are out of the Republic of Ireland Under 21 European Championship qualifier against Malta in Valletta today.
Everton centre back Dunne is suspended and Leeds midfielder McPhail is injured but although the game is meaningless in terms of reaching next summer’s finals, manager Ian Evans is demanding a much improved performance after two depressing defeats.
Dunne, already sent off for his club in the Premiership this season, is banned after another red card in the 5 1 hammering by Croatia in Zagreb last Friday.
And McPhail has been sent home to his club to recover from damaged ankle ligaments sustained in the opening minutes of that game.
“We could use those things as excuses,” said Evans, who saw his side beaten 2 0 at home by Yugoslavia three days earlier.
“But a lot of our problems against Croatia were preventable. I would expect our lads to defend a lot better than they did.”
Dunne’s dismissal was the fourth in the qualifying campaign for the Irish, who now stand an unassailable 10 points behind leaders Croatia.
Evans said: “I’ve had a word with the players about our disciplinary record but that’s all I can do because I’m not allowed to fine or punish them.
“But there is not a malicious player in the group. They are all proud to wear the green shirt and they give you everything, but the trick is to balance the aggression with a bit of common sense.
“It would also be nice to get back on the winning track tomorrow but it won’t be easy for the boys in the heat. Malta are not a bad side but we can certainly do better than in our last two games.”
Although the hosts are bottom of the table they recently posted a 5 1 win over Macedonia, who forced a goalless draw in June in Galway.
That result was subsequently converted to a 3 0 Irish win by UEFA after they discovered the visitors fielded an ineligible player.
And Malta were only beaten 2 1 in Kilkenny by the Irish youngsters last October when defender Dave Worrell scored a stoppage time winner.
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