Seamus Coleman has warned the Republic of Ireland they may have to be patient once again as they attempt to collect a second World Cup qualifier victory in four days.
Coleman will lead Ireland in the Group D battle with Moldova in Chisinau on Sunday hoping life will be considerably more comfortable than it was in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium, but prepared for the alternative.
He said: "Look, ideally we'd like to win games comfortably but at international level, you've got to earn the right to play initially.
"We have watched little bits on this team already - they press well, they work hard, so we've got to earn that right to play. Ideally, you want to win comfortably but it's not always the case.
"We've got a good group of lads, a group of lads who are together who I know for 90 minutes, whether it is going good or bad, will be in the game. They will help each other.
"It's all about getting three points, at the end of the day and we'll be wanting to do that."
At 27, Everton full-back Coleman finds himself wearing the captain's armband for his country having taken over from striker Robbie Keane following his retirement from international football.
Coleman may not the the most demonstrative leader on the pitch, but manager Martin O'Neill has been delighted with his contribution so far.
O'Neill said: "Seamus has taken up the mantle of captaincy as if he was born to it. He's naturally a quiet enough lad in many aspects, but he's been terrific on the pitch.
"But he was terrific on the pitch even before he took the captaincy. I felt it was a natural progression.
"The two captains that I've had at international level have been Robbie when he's been available and John (O'Shea) when he's playing - and the chances are at the minute, with absolutely no disrespect to John, being a few years older than Seamus - is Seamus is probably going to be around a wee bit longer than John.
"But he's earned the right. Since he took the captaincy in France, he's been brilliant."
Coleman sat alongside O'Neill at his pre-match press conference at the Stadionul Zimbru hours after the publication of a newspaper interview in which he bemoaned the fascination of some modern young players with the fripperies surrounding the game, mentioning in particular the desire to own a designer wash-bag, rather than with learning their trade.
He smiled as he clarified his stance: "Unfortunately I think some young players nowadays find that side of the game quite important - but I'm not against Instagram or wash-bags or anything like that."
Source: PA
