Sean St Ledger wants to have Eamon Dunphy eating his words.

Irish reporter Eamon Dunphy is no stranger to "hammering" Ireland's World Cup qualification, and his description of the players as "shameful" during his post-match analysis, has left a bitter taste with the Boro defender.

Sean St Ledger: "I would say we are in the play-offs - that's the best way to answer it.

"When we were seeded for this group, we were not seeded second, so we have over-achieved, really.

"If we won the World Cup and didn't play very well, would people moan? I don't think they would.

"Everyone has an opinion - football is a game of opinions. Pundits can express their opinions and every fan who comes and pays their money maybe has a different opinion to you or I.

"It's the sort of thing you just have to put up with. Some of the press has been a little bit negative, but such is life.

"To call our performance 'shameful' on Saturday was a little bit harsh, but everyone has the right to an opinion and that was his opinion, so fair enough."