SO Steve Staunton can be relatively assured of his employment for the rest of the campaign now that the one outcome that would certainly have sunk him . . . a double defeat over these two games . . . has been removed.

The job now is to see can he and his side build on matters, to see if the yo-yo pattern that has marked out their time together so far can be eliminated.

As if we really needed telling, the one bedrock truth to the group is that take out Germany and the Czechs and you're left with an enough empty old bowl. Slovakia have shown themselves to be just as capable of the coin-toss variations in performance that Ireland are, that Wales are, that even Cyprus are.

If you like, you can warn darkly of their potential and cite the 5-1 trimming of Wales in the Millennium Stadium or the 6-1 against Cyprus as your evidence. If you prefer, you can dismiss them as just another Eastern European side prone to taking the odd timbering themselves and hold the 3-0 defeat at home to the Czechs or the 4-1 away to Germany up to the light as blemishes on the x-ray.

They're neither especially better nor demonstrably worse than Ireland are and choosing between the pair of them on Wednesday could well be a matter of moods.

In a reasonable frame of mind, Slovakia have a smattering of players classy enough to do Ireland damage on Wednesday night. The Nuremburg FC pair of Marek Mintal and Robert Vittek stand out, sharing the country's Player of the Year awards between them over the past three years. Mintal scored twice in the win over Wales . . .

although, truth be told, Wales goalkeeper Paul Jones can probably take most of the credit for one of them . . . and Vittek added the fifth, having set up the first. Add Porto midfielder Marek Cech and you're left with as much as Ireland can boast, give or take.

As for the mood of Staunton's players, yesterday's display should have buoyed them a fair bit. They were nervy but they were competent; they never outclassed Wales but kept them at arm's length after Stephen Ireland put them ahead.

Score first again on Wednesday night and they can reasonably be expected to do the same again.

They'll be missing Robbie Keane, though, and that presents a definite problem. For all that we cavil about him from time to time, he was easily the most creative force yesterday, dropping deep when needed, helping out when he could. His was the pass for Ireland's goal, just as it was for the chance Damien Duff missed beforehand, just as it was for the Kevin Doyle shot that hit the post late on.

He might be frustrating at times but he's been the only show in town for over half a decade now and how they get on without him on Wednesday will make interesting viewing.

A draw won't be a terrible result. Without Keane, it might be as much as they can hope for.

EURO 2008 QUALIFYING GROUP D
IRELAND v SLOVAKIA
Wednesday, Croke Park, 7.30