The travelling Irish contingent of over 700 gave the team a rousing send-off after the game but it doesn’t erase the fact the half-time whistle was greeted by some boos and heckles.
If Kenny can be thankful to Guillaumier for creating the goal chance, then he should be just as grateful to referee Chrysovalantis Theouli for not awarding Malta a penalty just seconds after Robinson’s goal. Kenny again went for his now preferred system with three at the back, here it was John Egan, Nathan Collins and Coleman, the team captain.
Mbong curled a shot over Kelleher’s crossbar soon after but in what was an otherwise forgettable opening 45 minutes, Ireland’s best chance arrived just before the break. The breakthrough goal arrived soon after and it would prove to be enough. Or, rather, it would have to be enough.