MARTIN O’NEILL hailed Darren Randolph’s shot-stopping heroics after the Middlesbrough goalkeeper produced a string of superb saves to give the Republic of Ireland the edge at the halfway stage of their World Cup play-off with Denmark.

Ireland ground out a goalless draw in Copenhagen last night, a result which makes them marginal favourites to make it to Russia as they prepare to host the Danes in the return leg at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

Randolph was called into action on a number of occasions as Denmark threatened to break through at the weekend, producing a fine double save to deny Jens Stryger Larsen and Andreas Cornelius before tipping Yussuf Poulsen’s late header over the crossbar.

The 30-year-old has been a key performer throughout Ireland’s qualifying campaign, with his weekend display a continuation of the fine form he has been producing in a Middlesbrough shirt in recent weeks.

Randolph made a smart double save in the early stages of Boro’s Tees-Wear derby win over Sunderland to help his side record a welcome clean sheet, and O’Neill expects him to be a pivotal performer again as Ireland look to seal their World Cup qualification on home turf.

“Darren Randolph is a very fine goalkeeper, and I thought he made a very good save, an excellent save, and the one he tipped over the bar,” said O’Neill. “That’s the way he’s been playing for us during the course of this campaign.

“The players put a big effort into the game. It would have been great if we could have scored a goal, but I think the game is evenly poised for the second leg.”

In terms of quality, last night’s first leg was a poor affair, although both teams’ reluctance to take too many risks was perhaps understandable given the magnitude of what was at stake.

It will be even tenser in Dublin for the return game, and Randolph’s input could be crucial, along with that of Boro team Cyrus Christie, who will once again form part of the home team’s back four.

Martin Braithwaite did not make the Denmark squad for the first leg, and the Danes are once again likely to rely on the likes of Christian Eriksen and Nicolai Jorgensen as they look to make a breakthrough on Tuesday.

O’Neill accepts Ireland cannot rely on Randolph keeping a second clean sheet in the space of four days, so the former Sunderland boss will be urging his players to look to score at least two goals in order to guarantee their progress to Russia.

“With the players that they possess, I believe that they are capable of scoring a goal, so it means we might have to score two to win the match,” he said. “That’s the way I am looking at it, and we will have to show a bit more creativity during the course of the game at the Aviva.

“I think we are capable of doing that. Urged on by a big crowd as well – we have a lot to play for, anyway.”

Christie was not as influential as Randolph last night, but the right-back produced a typically committed and energetic display to help shut down the left-hand side of the Danish attack.

He will hope to be more of an offensive asset on Tuesday – his overlapping runs have formed a key part of Boro’s attacking arsenal this season – and while the scoresheet might be level at the halfway stage of the double-header, Christie feels playing at home for the decider gives Ireland a major advantage.

“It was very tough, but it was tough for Denmark as well,” said the defender. “I’m sure they knew they were in for a game, and we won the battle. We had chances, and I don’t think they had too many chances.

“We kept them quiet and, at the end of the day, we could have won it. Now, we go back to our home ground and we will be full of confidence. We reassess, get ready for Tuesday, and we can hopefully make it a special night. It’s a massive night, and hopefully we can rise to the occasion.”