Five things we noticed from Ireland v Georgia

Ireland's faith in Walters pays off
He has not always been an automatic starter for Ireland, but Jon Walters proved his worth by getting the all-important first goal against Georgia. The Stoke City player operated as a wide man in the hosts' front line and covered a huge amount of ground with his determined running. He also has a knack of finding himself in the right place at the right time and that is exactly how his goal came about on 69 minutes.

Whelan remains central to O'Neill's plans
Glenn Whelan does not have the kind of profile Robbie Keane does, but the midfielder plays just as pivotal a role for Ireland, protecting his defence and linking up play. The 31-year-old's running off the ball and clever positioning allows him to anticipate danger long before it happens. Even with James McCarthy, Jeffrey Hendrick, David Meyler and Stephen Quinn competing for starting spots, he remains prominent in Martin O'Neill's thoughts.

Georgia are a growing force
Ever since Kakhaber Tskadadze took over as Georgia coach there has been a renewed sense of optimism around their squad. Friday's 1-0 victory over Scotland was no fluke; it was earned through intelligent play, a shrewd tactical plan and a willingness from the players to fight for each other. They showed that again against Ireland. They are very much a team on the rise.

Makeshift left-back Robbie Brady looked classy©AFP/Getty Images

Tactical switch works well for Ireland
Set up in a 4-3-3 formation, Ireland were able to rotate their front players – Keane, Walters and Wesley Hoolahan – and draw Georgia out of their shape. It also allowed Jeffrey Hendrick to roam from midfield, and it was his run that set up the goal for Walters. It is a formation that suits this Ireland team and they will surely look to use it when Germany arrive in Dublin next month.

Brady can make left-back spot his own
There was a concern that the left-back position would be troublesome for Ireland but Robbie Brady, who is naturally a forward or winger, has proved himself more than capable of occupying it. In fact, the Norwich City man has excelled in Ireland's last two games with his running down the flanks and expert delivery from set pieces. He may just have solved a problem for Ireland.