Ireland player ratings as Alan Browne is bright light in Serbia defeat

Mark Travers 5 - Tough night on his competitive debut and caught off his line for Mitrovic's classy first

Seamus Coleman 6 - The skipper brought a first-half sense of calm on his first appearance for Kenny

Dara O’Shea 7 - Stood his ground early on but couldn’t get tight to Vlahović for the equaliser and Serbia ran riot

Ciaran Clark 6 -  Solid start but Ireland’s defence came under relentless pressure in the second-half.

Matt Doherty 6 - Made some vital interceptions to cut out Serbian attacks and played well

Ireland's Matt Doherty, Jayson Molumby and Callum Robinson with Strahinja Pavlović of Serbia (©INPHO/Nikola Krstic)

Josh Cullen  7 - The little man put in a huge shift as the holding midfielder until Serbia upped their game

Jayson Molumby 6 - Surprise starter but gave energy to Ireland’s midfield off the front and back foot

Alan Browne 8 - Ended Ireland’s goal drought with a superb header and put in a superb all round shift

Enda Stevens 6 - The wing-back played a key role in Ireland’s goal and defended well when required

Aaron Connolly 6 - Saw penalty appeals waved away but played a key role pressing from the front

Callum Robinson 6 - Clever feet and top-notch cross for Browne’s goal and can be happy with his graft.

IRELAND SUBS:

Jeff Hendrick for Molumby, 61 mins - 6

Shane Long for Connolly, 67 mins - 6

Robbie Brady for Clarke 79 mins - 5

James McClean for Robinson 78 - 5

James Collin for Browne 78 - 7

SERBIA: Dmitrovic, S Mitrovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic, Mladenovic (Kostic 45) Gajic, Lukic, Racic (Maksimovic 64), Tadic (Gudel 77)j, Djuricic (A Mitrovic 64), Vlahovic (Jović  83)

Subs: Rajkovic, Nikolic, Petkovic, Spajic, Gudelj,, Milinkovic-Savic, Ristic,, Radonjic,

Referee: D Massa (Italy)