Goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov put the visitors three up inside an hour at Dublin's Aviva Stadium but a penalty from Robbie Keane started the fightback in the 72nd minute and, when Shane Long made it 3-2, the crowd sensed a shock point was possible.

However, although the final 12 minutes brought plenty of home pressure, they could not find an equaliser, meaning Slovakia, Russia and the Republic are all level on six points at the top of Group B.

Coach Trapattoni admitted he had been caught out by Russia's formation, with Kerzhakov and Dzagoev playing up front, but he took comfort from his side's response in the final stages.

The Italian said: "Over 90 minutes, Russia deserved to win. In my mind I had an idea how Russia would play away from home, that maybe they would play with one striker and more in midfield.

"If we could have scored early on maybe it could have changed the game. The deflection off Richard Dunne for the third goal was unlucky; 2-0 is different than 3-0, but I have to praise the team as well for how they played in the second half.

"Two goals are important for our morale but also for the qualification."

Players such as captain Keane, midfielder Glenn Whelan and goalkeeper Shay Given have struggled for game time in the Barclays Premier League this season, and Trapattoni felt that contributed to the ease with which Russia created chances.

"Three or four players have not played that much and in the first half it was clear," he continued. "I didn't think we would concede three goals but we showed character because we could have conceded more. I said in the dressing room at half-time: 'Show your pride.'"

Although Aiden McGeady could not manage his first goal on his 35th cap for the Republic, the 24-year-old troubled Russia more and more as the game went on, particularly when he came off the wing in the final stages.

McGeady has impressed since moving to Spartak Moscow from Celtic this summer and tonight's performance added to Trapattoni's belief that second striker could turn out to be his best position.

He said: "McGeady played well. I saw him in Moscow and too many times I've told him he can play like this. In the second half we changed things around."

Keane hit the bar early on with a cross but for the next hour the game was completely dominated by Russia as the Republic were forced to defend wave after wave of attacks.

They simply could not contain the visitors, with Andrey Arshavin, Kerzhakov and Dzagoev particularly impressive, and it was no surprise when they took the lead 11 minutes in.

Shay Given could not hold Arshavin's deflected free-kick and Sergei Ignashevich's overhead kick across the box fell perfectly for Kerzhakov.

Their second came in the 28th minute when Aleksandr Aniukov was given time and space on the right to send in a cross, and a lovely dummy by the dangerous Kerzhakov allowed Dzagoev to drill the ball beyond a helpless Given.

The third was fortunate, Shirokov's 25-yard effort deflected past Given by Dunne, but it was certainly no more than Russia deserved.

A comeback from the hosts looked distinctly unlikely at that point but, when Keane tumbled under Yury Zhirkov's challenge, referee Kevin Blom pointed to the penalty spot and the captain duly converted from 12 yards.

Six minutes later substitute Long poked in a second after McGeady had been denied by Igor Akinfeev, and that was how it stayed despite further action at both ends.

Russia coach Dick Advocaat had called for a response from his team after their home defeat by Slovakia last month, and he was mostly delighted with what he saw.

"It was a well-deserved win," he said. "The first 10 minutes we struggled a little bit with the physical side but after that we played some excellent football.

"Unfortunately the penalty changed the game totally. It was quite a cheap goal but there was no reason at all to be nervous because we controlled the game.

"The Irish players can do that because they are physically strong; even the best team in the world cannot control that. But overall I'm very, very happy. For the majority of the game the crowd have seen an excellent Russia."

Reflecting further on the penalty, which seemed a soft one with little contact between Zhirkov and Keane, Advocaat simply said the Republic striker "did really well".