Lisbon draw not impossible but we need leaders

CARR SAYS RIGHT MENTALITY COULD PRODUCE A MIRACLE

- By MARK McCADDEN

STEPHEN Carr reckons Ireland could nick a draw against Portugal on Saturday — because expectations on Heimir Hallgrímsson's men are so low.

Ireland will most likely need to pick up something from their two games against the Group F favourites to keep alive their slim hopes of sneaking into second place and securing a World Cup playoff spot.

And the former Tottenham and Newcastle fullback believes the Boys in Green often rise to occasions such as these.

It's four years since Stephen Kenny's side came within minutes of winning away to Portugal, only for Cristiano Ronaldo, with his 110th and 111th international goals, to snatch an injury-time win for the hosts.

The return at the Aviva Stadium ended in a scoreless draw — a result Hallgrímsson would happily settle for on Saturday in Lisbon.

According to Carr: “Obviously Portugal are a very good team, a top European team. Then with the result we got [in Armenia], the lads are going to be on a bit of a downer.

"But they are going to have to put that behind them, it’s gone now, it was a terrible result.

"And I think if they go with the right mentality, they could get a draw. I really do think they could nick a draw.

"As I said before, I think it’s typical for an Irish team, that we've had such a bad result and then go to one of the big boys and nick a result.

"But we have to be solid, not concede early. If you concede early there, it's tough.