Aiden McGeady praised for sparkling Irish show

Published on Wednesday 8 September 2010 20:13

Aiden McGeady earned a special pat on the back from manager Giovanni Trapattoni after inspiring the Republic of Ireland to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Andorra on Tuesday night.

The Spartak Moscow midfielder gave full-back Jordi Escura a torrid time as he helped to launch the competitive era at the Aviva Stadium with a win.

McGeady, who has not been an automatic choice during Trapattoni's reign, repeatedly caused panic in the visitors' defence by cutting inside from his wing, no more effectively so than when he set up skipper Robbie Keane's 54th-minute strike.

Trapattoni said: "I congratulated him after the game for what he showed us. This is his quality. He did what I have been asking him to do. We know he can dribble and cross and shoot, and that he is quick.

"But we have been working on his positioning on the pitch and by playing the way he did, he saw 30 per cent more of the ball. We showed him DVDs of the Andorra team yesterday and again this morning, and I am happy that he understood. This was one of his best games for us."

Meanwhile, John Toshack is expected to announce his decision to step down after nearly six years as Wales manager at a press conference this afternoon.

The 61-year-old will appear before the media alongside Football Association of Wales president Phil Pritchard and chief executive Jonathan Ford.

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett was backed from 20-1 to 5-2 favourite with bookmaker William Hill to succeed Toshack aafter a flurry of bets.

• France coach Laurent Blanc has told his side that Tuedsay night's victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina "has to be the turning point".

Les Bleus had struggled to recover from a dispiriting World Cup campaign, losing 2-1 in Norway last month with a shadow squad - after Blanc axed all the players involved in South Africa - and then 1-0 at home to Belarus on Friday in their opening qualifier for Euro 2012.

But goals from Karim Benzema and new captain Florent Malouda earned them a 2-0 success in Sarajevo and Blanc is adamant they must push on. "After Belarus, I told the players that they hadn't, unfortunately, made the most of the good things they did during the game," he said. "I can no longer say that.

"They were beyond reproach, not only their performance but also their spirit, and they were rewarded.

• Aston Villa were hoping to confirm the appointment of Gerard Houllier as their new manager last night. Houllier met with French Football Federation president Fernand Duchaussoy earlier in the day to resign as his country's technical director.