STEPHEN KENNY admits Ireland only had themselves to blame for botching their Nations League opener in Yerevan.
And Chiedozie Ogbene claims the Boys in Green have to change their mentality and become a ‘win at all costs’ team.
Ogebene said: “We just have to be ruthless, it's a results-based business. We need to change our mentality, to win at all costs. We need to put on a show.”
Ireland have still to win a Nations League game after 11 attempts under Kenny and Martin O’Neill.
But they struggled in attack here and offered up a dire, limp performance that Armenia were more than capable of handling.
Not only that, the hosts made Ireland pay with a stunning 74th minute winner from Eduard Spertsyan.
And Kenny’s lofty dreams of topping the group are already looking a tall order just one game in after this effort.
In Yerevan tonight, Kenny said: “We have made life difficult for ourselves. Rather than focus on that we have to dust ourselves down and bounce into two home games.”
Ireland host Ukraine and Scotland on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, but reflecting on today’s dud performance, Kenny continued: “We lost a tight game.
“It’s not a game that we deserved to lose - you couldn’t say that on the balance of play or chances.
“But we have lost and only ourselves to blame and we’re disappointed.
“For the last 25 minutes of the first half we were in control but we didn’t start the second half like we ended the first and were susceptible to counters.
“We watched Armenia’s last 20 games and they don’t usually play with five at the back. We found them difficult to break down and we only had half chances.”
There were shades of Ireland’s nightmare home defeat to Luxembourg about this performance, with Kenny’s team labouring despite bossing possession.
“That was a long time ago and there were reasons for that,” said the Ireland boss in response.
“Tonight I accept the criticism and we didn’t unlock the door or create more clear cut chances.
“They defended crosses well and all our one-two play on the edge of the box, they got vital blocks at key moments.
“We needed to use the width of the pitch more and make it bigger. But we didn’t do that in the way I wanted.”
Ogbene squandered a great chance to score just before half-time when free in the box - and the Rotherham flyer is haunted by it.
Ogbene said: “We're frustrated. Today has taught us a lot about football, that we have to take our chances and we need to have that win at all costs mentality.
“I felt in the first half we dominated possession, we had everything under control but in the second half we took our foot off the pedal.
“We didn't do the things we'd done in the first half. And they had a long-range shot which was the difference today.”
And quizzed on topping the group, Ogbene said: “We have made it difficult for us. It’s a big mountain to climb but we have seen teams do it before.
“We are capable of doing it but it has to start from Wednesday. We need to put points on the board on Wednesday if we are going to top the group like we say we want to.”
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