Martin O’Neill’s comments about what he’s going to do for Austria game are downright exciting

Conan Doherty

It’s the million euro question on every self-loathing Irish man and woman’s lips: stick or twist?

Ireland are sitting pretty in Group D, joint top with Serbia.

The highest-ranked side go straight to Russia for the World Cup next summer. Second place takes their chances in the playoffs.

Third? Third can piss off. This isn’t some 24-team European Championships now.

So, with a four-point deficit between Ireland and Wales and Austria in the chasing pack, there’s a feeling around the country that we shouldn’t be getting too greedy. Go for first and we could end up with nothing, that sort of thing. You know, don’t be getting notions.

Manoeuvre our way into second place is the safest bet in a lot of minds but that’s not the thinking for Martin O’Neill.

Well, if it is, he knows that the country’s best shot of qualifying for even a playoff rests in the ability to win your home games. And, come Sunday against Austria, the Derry man wants three points. Nothing else.

“In a nutshell, we’ve got to go forward against Austria,” O’Neill bellied when asked about bringing Wes Hoolahan on for Glenn Whelan at half time against Uruguay.

That was always the thinking because he wants to see how this side attacks best.

“I don’t want to be sitting here afterwards regretting that we haven’t done that.

“We’ve got to be on the front foot from the start of the game, we’ve got to take some risks in the match as well. We’re at home, we’ve got the crowd, we have to try and win the game.

“I know it’s very, very important for Austria to win the game but it’s equally as important for us so we want to be on the front foot.”

He also has a decision to make in goals and, after a mistake that led to the South Americans’ equalisier, Darren Randolph might feel himself under serious pressure.

“I’ve got a lot of time for both goalkeepers,” O’Neill said when asked if he will be thinking of making a change.

“From the moment that Darren’s come in, that time he came on as a sub against Germany, he hasn’t done a great deal wrong. Westwood has been waiting patiently in the wings – and I know Keiren myself.

“He’s a very, very talented goalkeeper and that was a really good save there today. It is just genuinely nice to have two very capable goalkeepers and there’s not a great deal between them.”