A Fair Result Is The Manager's Verdict

Martin O'Neill believes that todays draw against Liverpool was a fair result for both teams.

Speaking on the official site after the match, O'Neill knows full well in terms of the standards we set ourselves in attack, today we didn't turn up.

We didn't create enough, take our chances nor could we break down a Liverpool side who seemed hesistant to try for anything other than a point. Whether this was by design, or simply given how we started the match they choose to sit back knowing we would obliterate them if given a decent shot at counter attacking I don't know.

What I do know though is that this Liverpool team are average without Gerrard, and unless they find even half the form they had last season, will struggle and nobody will fear facing them.

'I thought both sides cancelled each other out. It was tough and physically very demanding but I was delighted with the big effort we put in.

'I usually talk after games about creating chances but today I am delighted with a clean sheet. I think a draw was a fair result.

'I told the players at half-time that if we kept a clean sheet, we would go on to win the game. I didn't think, regardless of how good a side Liverpool are, that they could keep us at bay for the full 90 minutes.

'If I had one criticism, I thought we could have tried to create a little bit more. We scored six goals in two games but we found it tough today.

'All in all, it's a point on the board but I think we will have better days in front of goal.'

All that said about Liverpool, one thing is for sure about us though. If Ashley has an off day or Gabby doesn't turn up at all, we struggle.

We are crying out for a top class striker and a playmaker. If we get those and continue to click in defence and keep those all important clean sheets, we will be phenomenal.

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