A poor second half from Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, where a James McCarthy own goal and mistake from Seamus Coleman let Serbia turn a defeat to a victory.
Shane Long had given Ireland the lead in the first half.
Ratings:
David Forde – Well marshalled by his defence but faultless when called up, especially with an acrobatic first half save from Tadic. Some other good stops and at fault for neither goal. Rating: 7
Seamus Coleman – Had more to do in attack than defence, and his pace frequently troubled Branislav Ivanovic in the first half. The second half was a different story and Coleman erred badly for Djordjevic’s goal. Never looked happy once Tosic came on for Serbia. Rating: 5
Richard Keogh – Capable, marshalled the defence well, justified his call-up and wasn’t at fault for either Serbian goal. Rating: 7
Marc Wilson – Composed in the first half and could have made it 2-0 with a header on 25 minutes. Looked shakier after the break without doing anything disastrous. Rating: 6
Stephen Ward – Did well not to concede a penalty in the first half with a handball, while his last minute block on Basta prevented an equaliser just before half-time. Replaced. Rating: 6
Aiden McGeady – Utterly anonymous in the first half. Not much better in the second. Replaced. Rating: 4
James McCarthy – For a player so highly rated, he rarely makes the Hollywood pass and his scoring record is non-existent. We know he’s important, but we can never really tell why. Ireland’s Michael Carrick? An own goal doesn’t help his rating. Rating: 5
Glenn Whelan – Took his volley brilliantly in the opening minutes, after which the game seemed to pass him by. Had the opportunity to lob Stojkovic after a poor kick-out, passed the ball backwards instead, typical Whelan really. Rating: 5
James McClean – Showed more in defence than going forward, where his final product remains lost somewhere in 2012. Better in the second half and tried to drive Ireland forward once they went behind. Rating: 6
Wes Hoolahan – Was justified for sticking out a boot to prod in Whelan’s early volley as he was onside at the time. Pivoted brilliantly in the first half and almost set Long through for a second, and did the same in the second with an even better through ball. Ireland’s best player. Rating: 8
Shane Long – Took his goal well in first half and defended well from the front. A poor attempt when set from by Hoolahan on the half hour mark, and an even worse effort from another Hoolahan throughball after Serbia equalised. Rating: 6.5
Subs:
Ciaran Clark (on for Ward) – Barely noticed him.
David Meyler (on for McCarthy) – Headed over from a McGeady corner when it looked easier to score.
Anthony Pilkington (on for Hoolahan) – Not on long enough to rate.
Daryl Murphy (on for McGeady) – No chances as Ireland were pegged back late in the game.
Jon Walters (on for Long) – See previous rating.
