The Republic passed up the opportunity to maintain the pace with leaders Italy last night when they could ony draw 1-1 with Bulgaria at Croke Park, as Kevin Kilbane's late own goal denied them a fourth victory in five attempts.

However, they will jet out to Bari tomorrow for Wednesday night's showdown with the world champions still seven points clear of the Bulgarians and Cyprus, who beat Georgia 2-1 yesterday, having played one game more, and in pole position to claim at least a play-off berth.

That was a message manager Giovanni Trapattoni was swift to press home in the immediate aftermath of last night's disappointment, which came after Richard Dunne had headed the home side in front with just 40 seconds gone.

Keane explained: "He was saying, 'Pick yourselves back up, we didn't lose'. We have to look at the overall picture.

"Obviously, we are disappointed after going a goal ahead in the first minute.

"But we have to look at ourselves in the situation and I think we probably would have taken this at the start of the campaign, the position we are in at the moment and how many points we are ahead of Cyprus and Bulgaria.

"We would have taken that at the start of the campaign. We knew Italy were going to be the favourites.

"Obviously we want to push them and hopefully get to the top of the table, but I think people are thinking now we are going to get second."

Italy had led the group from Ireland only on goal difference before last night, but their 2-0 win in Montenegro left them two points clear with five games left to play.

Perhaps significantly, Trapattoni's men face three successive away trips to his native country, Bulgaria and Cyprus before they return to Croke Park in October, and the first of those fixtures was always going to be their toughest challenge.

Keane, who spent six months in Italy with Inter Milan early in his career, said: "As long as you don't lose, that's the most important thing.

"They are the world champions and it is going to be a tough game, but we have got to frustrate them, we have got to keep the ball.

"They are a good footballing side and we know it is going to be tough, but we have got a lot of character in this team and there's no reason why we can't go there on Wednesday and get a result."

His sentiments were shared by the unfortunate Kilbane, who shook off his prsonal disappointment to set his sights on the challenge which lies ahead at the San Nicola stadium on Wednesday evening.

Kilbane said: "The manager said straight away after the game, 'We look forward now to the Italy game'.

"We have to go there full of confidence, we have to pick ourselves up very, very quickly.

"It's a big game for us and a big test, and I am sure everyone is going to relish the challenge.

"Italy are a strong side and if we can stay on their coat-tails, that's going to help us.

"We go there to try to get a result, and then it goes back here to Dublin, that's what we are hoping, later on in the year."

While the mood within the Irish camp was one of determination today, they were left to reflect upon the missed opportunites which left them so vulnerable to Bulgaria's fightback and the nature of the equaliser they conceded when Kilbane could only turn Stiliyan Petrov's cross into his own net in the 74th minute.

Full-back Kilbane said: "The lad ran from deep and good a good connection and it just hit me, there was nothing I could do.

"It was very, very disappointing."

Goalkeeper Shay Given did not train this morning because of a minor leg injury, but he is expected to be fit, however winger Aiden McGeady also sat out the session with a knee problem and is a doubt.