Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifying match between the Republic of Ireland and Austria at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The home side look to attack down the left. St. Ledger’s long ball is flicked on superbly by Wilson which sets McClean free down the flank. The winger’s centre is over-hit, however, and the ball drifts out for a goal kick.

Fuchs’ free kick from the halfway line is sent deep. Clark is all over Hosiner as he wins the header but there are no complaints from the Austrians.

The visitors are enjoying a decent spell of possession. Alaba collects the ball in the middle of the park and travels forward. The ball is swept out wide as Arnautovic crosses for Hosiner. Mark Wilson gives his man a nudge, and the attack breaks down as Forde claims.

Julian Baumgartlinger has replaced the injured Zlatko Junuzovic for Austria.

It really was a poor challenge from Pogatetz. Whelan sent Long down the line with a very smart ball but the Reading man was all on his own so there was no need for the Austria defender to make the challenge.

GOAL FOR IRELAND!! An emphatic finish from Walters. The Stoke man slams the ball home – sending Lindner the wrong way.

PENALTY TO IRELAND. Pogatetz brings Long down and Walters will have the chance to put the hosts back on level terms.

There’s confusion in the box following McClean’s brilliant inswinging cross from the left. Lindner and Pogatetz both go for it and the ball comes loose. Fuchs is on hand to clear and then gives his goalkeeper an earful for not taking control.

That yellow card will rule McCarthy out of Ireland’s next match. Austria are currently down to 10 men as Junuzovic is off the field for treatment.

James McCarthy goes into the book for a rather poor challenge. It’s a 50/50 but the Ireland man flies into the tackle and clatters into Junuzovic. Austria captain Fuchs wants more than a yellow card awarded, but that’s all it really deserves.

The visitors continue to see the majority of the ball. Each touch is greeted by a large cheer from the travelling fans.

The home crowd are not happy as Shane Long certainly looks to have won a corner off Pogatetz but the linesman awards a goal kick. Poor decision again from that official.

McClean takes the free kick which Lindner struggles to deal with. The keeper rushes off his line to punch but gets a weak hand on it. Walter’s gets on the end of the loose ball and tries to turn the ball back towards goal. The crowd shout for a penalty as the ball appears to hit the arm of Alaba, but that’s never going to be given.

Austria are working really hard. They’re not giving the hosts a moment’s rest on the ball. Coleman is dragged to the floor by Arnautovic and a free kick is awarded in a decent position.

Austria coach Marcel Koller said before the game that he would take a point here tonight, but it’s his side that are in the lead and are playing the better football at the moment. There’s no doubt that he’ll be the happier of the two men on the touch line so far...

McClean is floored on the left flank but the Croatian referee refuses to award a free kick, much to the disgust of the home fans. Ireland regain the ball, though, and look to build an attack.

Arnautovic is free down the left and is found by Fuchs. The Austria wide man takes a lovely touch before drilling the ball towards Hosiner at the far post. Clark is on hand to stick out a leg and clear the danger.

Clark tried the same thing against Man City whilst playing for his club side Aston Villa recently. He just took a chance there and it didn’t pay off.

GOAL!! AUSTRIA TAKE THE LEAD!! Ciaran Clark has a nightmare on this one. The defender tries a drag back and loses the ball in his own half. Junuzovic dispossesses the defender and bares down on goal, squaring the ball to Harnik who simply rolls the ball past Forde from 10 yards.

Sammon wins a header and the far post but the ball is cleared for a corner. The resulting set-piece is a poor one from McClean and forces Walters to lunge at the ball, giving away a free kick at the near post.

Clark plays the ball back to Forde under some heavy pressure. The keeper takes rather a heavy touch and almost allows for Hosiner to close the ball down but Forde manages to clear.