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Given, who returned to Newcastle in expectation of the birth of his first child, fears Ireland's lack of potency and all-round luck in front of goal last night might come back to haunt them.
"We didn't get the goals we deserved and there was a sense of frustration in the second half when that happened," said the Lifford man.
"We've done well enough getting to the final third, but we just didn't get the finishes, and hopefully it won't cost us at the end.
"But we did get the two goals and the three points, which is the most important thing, and we're in a good position going into the new year.
"We've played the two toughest games in Switzerland and France away, so we have to be happy with being joint top of the group at this stage. We can't complain too much.
"I don't think fatigue comes into it," he added. "We had a good rest since Saturday so I don't think that was a problem."
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Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid (pictured right, making his debut 11 months ago) won only his second competitive start after coming on for 50 minutes against the French on Saturday, and reflected on a job well done.
"We're disappointed we didn't get more goals because we created a lot," said Reid, who last lined out with Forest in the 1-0 League One loss at Millwall on October 3.
"We were a little bit unlucky, but they made a lot of last-ditch tackles and the 'keeper made some good saves.
"But I thought we played some tremendous football to create the chances, and at the end of it all we did get the three points.
"It's been a big week and we have come out the other side smiling. We've the results we wanted and we're now in a great position to kick on.
"Although there's a little bit of a break before the next competitive games, I'm sure we can regroup and build again from here."
They would want to - they can ill-afford to cough up 24 of 26 goal chances against Israel in Tel Aviv on March 26.
(*Photos courtesy of PA International)