Serbia then won a controversial penalty after Kostic threw himself to the ground as Walters pulled out of a challenge but the referee pointed to the spot and Tadic fired the ball down the middle to complete the turnaround for the home side.
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Must-win games against Georgia and Moldova are next on the agenda for Ireland and by the time the first of those games is played on October 6th, we will know whether O’Neill’s links with Hull are more than just speculative.
“I shook hands on the contract before the Euro 2016 finals”, he told Sky Sports.
They’re not quite running scared of the Irish, but there is a sense here, as the squad trained in the sun at their shiny new headquarters outside Belgrade, that Martin O’Neill’s side pose a threat.
However, O’Neill’s side face a tough task to get out of their 2018 World Cup qualification group, which includes defending champions Germany, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino, in addition to the Czechs.
“We had a poor first half but improved after the interval and I am confident this revamped 3-4-3 formation will get the desired results in the upcoming games”.
Serbia: Rajkovic 6, Ivanovic 6, Nastasic 6, Vukovic 6, Rukavina 7, Mladenovic 6, Gudelj 7, Milivojevic 6, Kostic 7, Tadic 6, Mitrovic 5.
Republic of Ireland got off to a great start as Hendrick struck early on, with a Robbie Brady free kick flicked into his path by Shane Long and the Burnley midfielder fired home from the top of the box with the ball taking a nick off Branislav Ivanovic on its way through. Subs. Quinn 7, Murphy 8, Clark N/A.
62′ – GOAL! Serbia 1-1 Republic of Ireland. He made no mistake, beating Randolph from close range.
69′ – GOAL! Serbia 2-1 Republic of Ireland.
Kostic was at the centre of the 68th-minute penalty award as he burst into the area and went down as if he’d been clipped by Jon Walters. Pavlovic is in to run in to Randolph’s spill, but he raps the crossbar from 10 yards out.
And two minutes later, second half substitute Daryl Murphy saved Ireland by heading in an equaliser at a corner to give the Boys in Green a point that had appeared unlikely.
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Ireland struggled to retain possession on a heavy surface at Red Star Stadium in Belgrade – a pitch inspection was needed pre-match following heavy rain – but O’Neill was full of praise for the way his players “roared back” to secure their first point in World Cup qualifying Group D. The team that took the game to Italy in Lille were nowhere to be seen.
