Randolph out to frustrate Austria

Darren Randolph says the Republic of Ireland will be aiming to frustrate Austria when the sides meet on Saturday in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The Republic head to Vienna looking to land a major blow against one of their main rivals for qualification, with Serbia and Wales also looking to progress from Group D.

Points away from home often prove key to qualification and having claimed a draw in Belgrade, ROI will not be intimated by their trip to the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

Martin O’Neill’s men, who are 4.50 to qualify as group winners, currently sit top alongside the Serbs, but a win for Austria would see them match the Republic’s tally of seven points.

Although he is a bit-part player for West Ham, Randolph has established himself as the undisputed number one for the Boys in Green over the last year, starting all four of their games at Euro 2016.

The 29-year-old says his side’s main goal in Vienna will be to make life awkward for Das Team. “If you’re an away team, you want to go and frustrate the home team as much as possible,” Randolph told reporters.

“It’s kind of must-win for them and for us, we’d like to get at minimum a point to keep us up there in the group, so there’s going to be pressure on both teams.

“They’ll obviously want to improve on their last result, so it’s going to be a tough game, a tough place to go.” The Republic of Ireland are 3.80 to win on Saturday, with the draw 3.40 and Austria are 2.00.