Only Steve Finnan's injury-time goal rescued the Irish from one of the worst home defeats in their history after Stelios Okkarides had shot the visitors into a shock 80th-minute lead.

And it did not prevent Staunton from being on the end of a barrage of boos from the disappointed home fans as his side's qualifying campaign continued to peter out in dismal fashion.

But Staunton, who has two years left on his four-year contract, insisted: "I've been given the job and I'm going to see it through.

"It will get better when we get a full-strength squad and when it does happen we'll have a good nucleus to go forward."

Staunton conceded Finnan's equaliser had allowed his side to "get out of jail" and went on to deliver a blunt appraisal of a performance which he admitted the supporters had every right to criticise.

Staunton added: "I felt sorry for them. They are fully within their rights to boo because it is just not good enough. It wasn't good enough in the first half. It got a little bit better in the second half but even in the second half it wasn't good enough.

"It didn't happen tonight. We didn't pass the ball, we didn't get get hold of it and we didn't mark. We didn't do anything tonight and we got out of jail.

"I'm not putting any spin on tonight. It's just not good enough and they know that.

"But I've got to give them credit for their spirit and to score a goal in the last minute at least shows they have got a bit of character about them.

"It will get better and when we get a full-strength squad we will have a good nucleus to go forward. The younger lads are having to learn the hard way through indifferent performances through this campaign."

Staunton defended his decision to reshuffle his side, with Joey O'Brien ineffective after being moved into an unfamiliar midfield role, and captain Robbie Keane continuing his barren streak in front of an international goal.

Staunton said of Keane: "Robbie has got the full backing and the respect of the squad. Unfortunately, at this moment in time, Robbie can't hit a barn door for us but he is scoring goals for Tottenham.

"What you have got to remember about Robbie Keane is he is our top goalscorer and the one player at any given time who can make a goal or score a goal for us. When you've got a goalscorer, you've got to rely on them."