Republic of Ireland 2 -0 Italy: Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland defeat Italians

The Blackburn midfielder's sweet 36th-minute strike and a second from substitute Cox at the death secured a fourth successive win for the Republic and extended Trapattoni's unbeaten record against the team he once managed to three games after two draws in the last World Cup qualifying.

Once again, Ireland's industry and commitment saw them through against technically more gifted opponents despite nine changes to the side which defeated Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Skopje at the weekend.

Cesare Prandelli's men may have dominated possession but they failed to make the most of it and when the chances came their way, the Irishmen took them with some aplomb in front of a crowd of 21,516.

Stephen Hunt tapped a 36th minute free-kick sideways to Andrews, whose skidding shot was firm and true as it flew past the diving Emiliano Viviano and into the bottom corner.

In the second half Italy threw everything they had at Ireland as the clock ran down but substitute Sebastian Giovinco's 86th-minute free-kick, which only just cleared the crossbar, was as close as they came to snatching a draw and their hopes were finally dashed at the death when Cox made ground to get on to the end of Hunt's cross to seal a creditable victory.

Afterwards Trapattoni insisted beating Italy did not make victory sweeter. He said: "I don't need the rivalry against Italy.

"When we play we play to win. The team is (going in] a good direction."

"We had four or five young players who get the experience. "It is not like Italy where we have a squad of 30. "We need to create a team."

West Brom striker Cox said: "It's been a dream come true to represent the country. I've been overjoyed. We defended like warriors today, we defended from the front."

Andrews believes Ireland demonstrated how far they have progressed. He said: "(We have come) a hell of a long way. We played them in the last campaign and we felt we should have won at least one of those two games.

"It shows how far we have come. It's four games, four clean sheets."

Republic of Ireland: Forde, McShane, Ward, St. Ledger, O'Dea, Foley, Coleman, Andrews, Hunt, Long, Keogh. Subs: Murphy, Kelly, Cox, Delaney, Whelan, Lawrence, Treacy..

Italy: Viviano, Cassani, Gamberini, Criscito, Chiellini, Marchisio, Pirlo, Nocerino, Montolivo, Rossi, Pazzini. Subs: Buffon, Sirigu, Maggio, Ranocchia, Ogbonna Obienza, Balzaretti, Palombo, Giovinco, Matri, Gilardino, Cassano.