Kerr: 'We needed that game'

Kerr's reaction to the match dramtically changed following a revival in the last quarter of the game, as John O'Shea headed his first goal for his country and Clinton Morrison returned to form with a well-taken second. Substitutes Ian Harte and Kevin Kilbane also offered more balance than O'Shea and a weary looking Damien Duff could in the first half.

The one overriding point is that first choice forward Robbie Keane is possibly out of next month's Russia game.

After the match, Kerr insisted that he is optimistic that Keane would be fit for the Russia clash, and said: "It is early to say. He has twisted his ankle. We hope that he is going to be okay. The players know they can improve but we need to be a lot better against Russia. We know we can be better."

Kerr also admitted that his side played well bellow themselves for the opening 45 minutes: "We were very disappointing in the first half, we lacked rhythm. They seemed to have more desire than we had, we did well to pinch the game. It was a very vibrant last half hour. I am satisfied in the end that we won but we needed a game - it was hard luck on Australia but Nicky Colgan played well for us."