Alaba criticises Ireland's long ball tactics after 1-1 draw

"I personally think it typified the referee's performance".

O'Neill had called Walters a warrior on the eve of the game and it certainly was a battling performance from the Stoke striker who deservedly got the Ireland goal.

Even Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick, the stars of the nation's Euro 2016 finals campaign, were largely becalmed as a chance to take a huge stride towards Russian Federation very almost went begging, and they will have to be much better in their remaining four games if they are to make it to Russian Federation.

The Boys in Green were by their usual standards under the current managerial team off colour in the first half and Austria deservedly led at the break in this Russian Federation 2018 qualifier. "It was an accidental foul on him but I've seen those given in the Premier League", he added.

"In the second half we regrouped and I thought we were by far the better side and created enough to win the game", he said.

The 1-1 draw at the Aviva Stadium, coupled with Serbia's late equaliser against Wales, means it's as you were in Group D, with O'Neill's side still level on points with group leaders Serbia, but four clear of both Wales and Austria.

"I just watched the disallowed goal back there and I think it's a disgrace", Brady told RTÉ Sport.

The midfielder divides opinion among Ireland fans, and that proved to be the case yet again on Sunday, as many Irish fans criticised his performance, suggesting that he offers nothing going forward and is often invisible in the Ireland midfield.

5 - Five of the last seven goals the Republic of Ireland have scored in home qualifiers have been scored by Jonathan Walters.

The Derryman seemed aware that he could face potential action for speaking his mind, saying: "I know in this day and age you get fined". That's all I'll say on that. We made it very hard for them and they got annoyed. The linesman is halfway up the pitch - he's closer to me.

"I'm really disappointed because we should have come away from that game with three points, but we didn't".

"He's not the quickest and yet he's got a real knowledge of the game and he's got a great will which he showed in the Euros for us".

Asked about the atmosphere in the dressing room after the final whistle, Derby full-back Christie said: "We were all a bit downhearted after that because we feel we should have won."We feel the ref's decision there at the end, we think he kind of bottled that decision".

"That's the sort of tempo we like and the way we played second half is the way we want to play. If you're thinking about that during the course of the game, then you have to think about a goal being given". But we were also lucky not to concede a goal.

"There are still 12 points to earn in qualification and we will try to get as many as possible".