‘Darren is an experienced goalkeeper, but he doesn’t play week after week’

Roy Keane suspects that the lack of first-team football may have been the root of Darren Randolph’s mistake that led to Fredrik Jensen’s goal for Finland against Ireland on Wednesday.

“They had a shocking goal tonight,” Keane told ITV.

“That is very good, whatever the philosophy of the coach, if he wants to play from behind.

“This comes down to decision-making by the players.

“Ireland is away from home, they are under pressure. Just relax. You have an experienced goalkeeper in Randolph. It’s a bad decision and an even worse execution. Crazy.

“Thanks to Pukki, he’s alive. Ireland is punished for that. That’s what happens in top-level sport.

“Darren is an experienced goalkeeper, but he doesn’t play week after week. He’s number two, and sometimes that sharpness isn’t there.”

In the game, Ireland failed to score for the fourth straight game with Stephen Kenny. Shane Duffy’s header from a Robbie Brady corner kick to equalize against Bulgaria in September remains Ireland’s only goal during Kenny’s time in command.

“Listen, we repeat it over and over, it’s not just about the last five games, the last number of years, scoring goals has been very difficult for Ireland,” said former Ireland assistant coach Keane.

“They’re creating opportunities. One goal in the last five games and that was from a set piece. It puts you under a lot of pressure. You have to find a way to get a result.”

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