Having experienced the disappointment of drawing at home to Israel, I can relate to what Steve Staunton is feeling this morning but at least he can depend on the support of John Delaney. I was not so fortunate, writes Brian Kerr

My confidence in a comfortable victory was misplaced. I should have known better given our inconsistency throughout this campaign.

For the second time, we allowed an average Cyprus team to gain in confidence and develop a composure that no visiting team to Dublin should be afforded. Steve Finnan's late intervention doesn't mask our numerous problems.

The collective FAI line spouted out about a four-year plan and rebuilding process to defend recent poor results doesn't stand up to examination.

Despite allegations to the contrary, the squad Steve Staunton inherited combined with the emerging talent had enough potential and experience to be in contention for qualification going to Cardiff. With almost half the 2002 World Cup squad still available, the scarcity-of-resources theory cannot be used as a constant shield.

Of course, several positions needed to be filled and players must be blooded in every campaign but this doesn't explain the performances in Cyprus, San Marino or last night.

The disasters on the road ensured Staunton's back was against the wall in the past 12 months. The nightmare experiences were followed by bright displays at home against the Czechs and Slovaks, but an international player is always going to react when his professional pride is dented.

The same pattern developed last night. We gave a half-interested Germany a minor fright on Saturday but went promptly back into our shell when the small-time opposition came calling.

That's the most notable trend from this campaign. We have to dig deeper for positives.

An effective 4-4-2 system has been developed since the return of Lee Carsley, with a switch to one striker when dealing with an attacking threat. Carsley and Richard Dunne's absence here left a huge gulf in the middle that we were unable to fill.

The real lack of progress can be explained by our dip in form away from home. This has been notoriously poor but, equally, we have traditionally managed to do just enough in places like Spain, the Netherlands and France to leave us relying on getting a result on the big days at Lansdowne Road.

We remain undefeated in Croke Park but no team will fear coming here in the World Cup qualifiers.

Once our away form dipped below average we were never going to be contenders for qualification but our poor concentration has been a repetitive Achilles' heel for this team.

Robbie Keane as captain is another decision that needs to be reviewed. From the start I felt the responsibility Robbie was forced to carry with the club and international armband would be too heavy a weight. A striker's primary responsibility is to score goals. Keane's last competitive goal in an important match was against Israel in June 2005. Before that it was against Germany in Japan.

Having your captain up front usually doesn't work unless the player possesses the natural leadership abilities of a Cruyff, a Maradona or even Alan Shearer. Such players brought a mental strength to equal their ability to produce exceptional moments and lead from the front.

We can't put Robbie in that bracket but he remains hugely important to Irish football. However, alongside Kevin Doyle he tends to drop too deep. At Spurs he gets ball going in behind defenders. Perhaps that's why he is a regular Premier League scorer.

Tonight was an opportunity to find a balance between complementing Doyle and getting in scoring positions but both players lacked the sharpness to cause any serious damage.

Of the midfield four, Andy Reid's 24 caps brings the grand total before last night to 37 with Stephen Hunt and Andy Keogh both making their third starts. They all suffered together.

Joey O'Brien brought defensive qualities to the midfield but his passing and interchanging with Reid were lethargic. Although clearly a Staunton favourite, the manager bit the bullet at half-time and ended Liam Miller's exile.

Miller's brief would have been simple: introduce a decent tempo with some snappy passing to reinvigorate what seemed a tired team after last Saturday's exertions.

But the malaise had already set in.

Regardless, the crowd's angry reaction demanded an improvement in the second half. It never came. They waited patiently for reasons to support their team and only expressed dismay when left with no other option. Their patience was stretched too far.

There was a noticeable lack of physicality when we began to dominate possession and it was only on the hour mark, when the Cypriots began to tire, that we began to impose ourselves. And yet, we still looked highly susceptible to a break-out.

Nobody could be surprised when the goal finally came as they equalled us on chances on the night. That's the most depressing thing.