One of the defining characteristics of Ireland's 0-1 win over Wales was the pressure put on Wales by Ireland's central diamond.
It resulted in Jeff Hendrick dispossessing Ashley Williams in the 56th minute and the rest, as they say, is history.
James McClean's goal that sparked scenes of jubilation for Ireland supporters in Cardiff and around the world! 🇮🇪 #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/rfYrIhMoDU
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 10, 2017
Speaking to Off The Ball the afternoon after the night before, Irish midfielder James Arter said that there was "kind of a chain reaction" once the game started and Ireland tried to minimise the space afforded to Welsh players.
"Wales had a lot of the ball but they didn’t have one clear chance in the game, they didn’t cut us open at any point. That’s a credit, not just to the lads in midfield, but Murph as well and the back four," he told Joe Molloy.
He praised Hendrick's build-up play for McClean's crucial strike and talked us through his decision to step-over the cross as it flashed through the penalty area:
"He done great to win the ball back, that pressure we put on throughout the whole game came to the fore there. He won the ball back nicely, I just found myself on the edge of the box.
"I thought if I make a run here, I looked behind me and I could see there was a big space. I hoped, and kind of sensed, there’d be one of our players on the edge of the box.
"I could tell the angle for me, there wouldn’t be much point in me trying to take a shot or if I took a touch they would have swarmed me. I just decided that it would be the best opportunity just to leave it and thankfully James tucked it away."
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