Dec 01,2024
Anna Patten believes the Republic of Ireland hold the advantage ahead of their second-leg battle with Wales in the race to make it to next year's Euros in Switzerland.
Patten produced another assured performance in Friday's 1-1 draw as part of a central three alongside Niamh Fahey and Caitlin Hayes.
The concession of an avoidable Lily Woodham goal was, the Aston Villa defender admitted, "annoying, frustrating", but Olivia Clark's OG got the Girls in Green back on level terms. They will head for Aviva Stadium on Tuesday with a massive chance of reaching a second major tournament, and Patten is feeling quietly confident.
"We came in at half-time and the big thing was, don't concede now," Patten reflected. "Going to the Aviva now with basically a 0-0 is something positive. It’s all to come in that game. We’ve got the home crowd and we’ve got everyone behind us, we’ve got an advantage now.
"We just kept doing our thing and we got up to speed and got the runners into the channels and hit the balls into the channels for the runners.
"They're so willing to run all day, I don’t know how they do it to be honest to make sure we were strong in defence. I think just second half in general, both teams were probably a bit cautious."
It's fair comment to say the game sagged into a war of attrition, with neither team willing to overly commit in search of a winner. The first leg of a two-legged tie is often an exhibition of shadow boxing. The main event comes on Tuesday night at Lansdowne Road.
"I think it was everything that we expected," added Patten. "I think we responded so well to conceding. It was an annoying, frustrating goal for us to concede, but obviously I think we settled our game then.
"They changed things in the second half and made it difficult for us. I think it got quite scruffy I'd say. It’s going to be a battle, we can take lots of positives from that game now into Tuesday and maybe just tweak a couple of things and be ready to go."
"It's great to have those players who have done this before, who have qualified for the World Cup."
Patten has been consistently good for Ireland since making her debut against France in Metz last April.
Still a relative newbie to international football, she's leaning on the older heads in the dressing room for guidance.
"It's great to have those players who have done this before, who have qualified for the World Cup," she said.
"Just (talking) over dinner and lunches and stuff, there has been conversations of how they felt in those moments and how there was calm and they knew what to do and knew their roles.
"Having those players on the pitch and having that... Wales haven’t achieved that. That definitely could give us an advantage on Tuesday. I really rely on the other girls and am grateful for that. I feel at ease and calm, and yeah grateful that I have them around me and have leaders on the pitch."
It's onwards now to the Aviva where Ireland will be hoping for a loud and partisan crowd to give them an edge. With this tie in the balance, a noisy home attendance could have a genuine impact.
"We need every single Irish fan now on Tuesday and maybe in those moments where momentum is not with us, we’re going to need them to be loud," said Patten.
"We’re going to need the Irish fans to step up. I’m sure they will."
