England and the Republic of Ireland draw blanks in Dublin

England extended their unbeaten season to nine games with a 0-0 draw in Dublin, but once again failed to overcome a stubborn Republic of Ireland side.

In the two nation’s first meeting on Irish soil in 20 years, it was a fairly sedate, Sunday lunchtime stroll with neither side doing enough to win the game.

The Three Lions have now played Ireland 15 times, eight ending in draws, and they have not tasted victory over their neighbours for thirty years. 

And a lack of cutting edge at both ends meant that this one, too, ended in a stalemate.

Hodgson sent out, unsurprisingly, a strong starting line-up with next week’s European Qualifier against Slovenia in mind. 

There was a first start for Ryan Bertrand at left-back and in the second half he also handed a debut to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. 

Probably the main story of the match.

Ireland seemed to settle into the early kick-off better than England, who were finding opportunities hard to come by in the opening half-hour. 

Wayne Rooney had the best sight of goal. He collected a loose ball on the edge of the area, but took too long to pull the trigger before he was bundled over – fairly – and the Irish cleared.

Ireland, on the other hand, were fired up by their vociferous Aviva Stadium support, and were putting pressure on the visiting defence. 

Robbie Brady’s deliveries to David McGoldrick and Jeff Hendrick in the box gave England something to think about. Rooney and Chris Smalling had to be alert to snuff out the danger.

Ryan Bertrand was handed his first start for England

One half of Ireland’s Ipswich Town forward pairing, Daryl Murphy, had the best chances to open the scoring. 

First, he found himself with space inside the England box but under pressure from Smalling struck his early shot wide of Joe Hart’s goal. 

Then he had a header from another Brady free-kick but that, too, missed the target.

Adam Lallana had a pot-shot from range with half-time approaching, and McGoldrick tried one at the other end, but neither had the required accuracy to trouble the keepers.

Though there were more chances after the break, Hart nor Westwood – or Shay Given when he came on – were given much to concern themselves with as Henderson, Sterling, Barkley and Jones for England and Harry Arter for Ireland missed with efforts at goal.

England's fans turned out in their numbers at the Aviva Stadium

Wayne Rooney did have a free-kick that gave Westwood something to think about but the strike lacked power. 

Meanwhile Stoke City’s Jon Walters drilled one at Hart from 20 yards, which needed a firm parry from the Manchester City man.

With many changes in both camps during the second period, Hodgson was able to give Vardy his first taste of international football, while Andros Townsend, scorer of England’s last goal away in Italy, provided another spark in their forward play.

The Spurs man, a long-range specialist with three goals from distance for England, tried another one with ten minutes left, but Given was down well to push wide.

Roy Hodgson made six changes to his England side for the game in Dublin

As the final whistle approached, England perhaps looked the most likely to score as they raised the tempo around the Ireland box, though Irish fans got excited when it looked like Walters was going to capitalise on Phil Jagielka’s slip in injury-time.

But in the end both teams had to settle for a draw, which maintains England’s unbeaten record this season, with important qualifiers coming up.

Republic of Ireland (4-1-3-2): 23 Keiren Westwood; 2 Seamus Coleman, 3 Marc Wilson, 4 John O’Shea(c), 19 Robbie Brady; 6 Glenn Whelan; 24 Jeff Hendrick, 8 James McCarthy, 7 Aiden McGeady; 21 Daryl Murphy, 25 David McGoldrick

Substitutes: 9 Shane Long on for McGoldrick, ht; 11 James McClean on for McCarthy, ht; 14 Jon Walters on for Murphy, 56; 16 Shay Given on for Westwood, 61; 13 Harry Arter on for Whelan, 63; 5 Paul McShane on for O’Shea, 72;

Substitutes not used: 1 David Forde, 10 Alex Pearce, 12 David Meyler, 15 Cyrus Christie, 17 Stephen Ward, 18 Stephen Quinn, 20 Wes Hoolahan, 22 Richard Keogh, 26 Darren Randolph

Manager: Martin O’Neill

Bookings: James McCarthy, 41

England (4-1-2-3): 1 Joe Hart; 2 Phil Jones, 5 Gary Cahill, 6 Chris Smalling, 3 Ryan Bertrand; 7 Jack Wilshere; 4 Jordan Henderson, 8 James Milner; 11 Adam Lallana, 10 Wayne Rooney, 9 Raheem Sterling

Substitutes: 17 Andros Townsend of for Sterling, 68; 20 Ross Barkley on for Wilshere, 68; 15 Phil Jagielka on for Cahill, 74; 21 Jamie Vardy on for Rooney, 74; 14 Theo Walcott on for Lallana, 82;

Substitutes not used: 12 Kieran Gibbs, 13 Robert Green, 16 Fabian Delph, 18 Charlie Austin, 19 Tom Cleverley, 22 Nathaniel Clyne, 23 Tom Heaton

Manager: Roy Hodgson

Referee: Arnold Hunter (Northern Ireland)