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Andrew Omobamidele has promised frustrated fans there is better to come after the Republic of Ireland slipped to a second successive defeat at the start of the new Nations League campaign.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side went down 2-0 to Greece at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening, having lost by the same score to League B2 rivals England in Dublin three days earlier, as familiar failings came back to haunt them once again.
Ireland have won only two of the last 10 competitive games they have played stretching back to March last year and the boos which greeted the final whistle in their latest outing told their own story.
Asked about that reaction, Nottingham Forest defender Omobamidele said: “It’s obviously not nice to hear as a player. I grew up watching Ireland, I’ve been a fan myself, so I know the frustrations.
“They’re obviously coming out to watch us play and put in a performance and ultimately, if we’re not getting results, I completely understand the reactions and it’s up to us to change that.”
Results – or a least a lack of positive ones – ultimately cost the previous Ireland manager Stephen Kenny his job in November and, two games into replacement Heimir Hallgrimsson’s reign, the new man finds himself already with his back to the wall.
He remains confident there is improvement to be made once he gets to know his players and they have had time to assimilate his ideas and Omobamidele agrees.
We know ourselves we need to be better and that’s what we’re going to do— Andrew Omobamidele
Asked if he had a message for the fans, he said: “I think just kind of reinforce that every single body on this team wants to play for Ireland and is proud and knows it’s a privilege to put on the green jersey.
“We know ourselves we need to be better and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Having succumbed to early goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish at the weekend, Ireland made it to half-time against the Greeks intact, but Fotis Ioannidis broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart and Christos Tzolis sealed victory at the death.
Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone admitted Ioannidis’ strike had been a “sucker punch”.
He said: “It’s obviously a good finish, but that’s a real sucker punch for us after a positive first half.
“We’ve only been with the manager a week and he’s got new ideas, we are coming together from our clubs. We all want results to turn around as quickly as possible, but I think especially the first half was a positive.”
That said, Smallbone admitted he had been embarrassed to be named player of the match, a decision which was greeted by jeers from a rapidly receding crowd when it was announced as time ran down.
He said: “I’m probably as embarrassed as anyone, receiving a man-of-the-match award when we’ve lost a game. I’m not sure why it’s done, but it is and I can’t control it. It’s not my decision.
“But we understand the fans’ reaction and we are working as hard as we can to turn it around and I believe we will.”
