Enda Stevens: "We're always confident going into games"

Andrew Dempsey reports from Aviva Stadium

Republic of Ireland full-back Enda Stevens believes that his teammates will have nothing to fear from top seeds Switzerland during the return fixture in Geneva next month.

David McGoldrick’s priceless 85th minute equaliser was enough to seal a point for Mick McCarthy’s side – after the Swiss had appeared to have taken all three points thanks to Fabian Schar’s well-taken strike.

“You’ll always feel confident, we always go to the end,” the former Shamrock Rovers man said after the game.  

“They had a lot of possession at times tonight, but they were limited enough in what they created.  

“They did however cut us open for the goal, but I think we created just as many chances as well so we’ve nothing to fear going to Geneva.”

Forced into a reaction after the concession of the opening goal, Stevens added that he was pleased with the character shown by the Boys in Green.

“We just had to react to going a goal behind. We were on top for large periods of the second half but then they got the goal.

“It was a well worked goal and we needed to react. Thankfully we did and got on the front foot. We got a few balls into the box and I thought we deserved to get the goal.

“We’ve got a group that will fight until the end and that’s what we done this evening.



“All the games are pivotal at the minute. We’ve only got three games left and it’s a point on the board and closer to where we want to be, and we’ll move onto the next game.

“The manager just said well done, we fought well and got back in the game and we could’ve pushed for a winner. It was a game of two halves as the cliché goes.

“We’ll improve on our performance tonight. We’ll look back on what we did and work on things so hopefully we can kick on from here.

With the Aviva Stadium home crowd proving to be as significant as always – Stevens noted on the importance of the 12th man for the Boys in Green.

“It was unbelievable, that’s what we need. As soon as you score a goal, the Goosebumps go up on the back of your net and you don’t feel anything like it.

“It’s some atmosphere when they get going and we just need them to stick by us and we’ll try get over the line.”