Ireland coach Steve Staunton has lost his last four matches and another loss to visiting group leader Czech Republic on Wednesday could cost him his job.
Ireland has no points from two European Championship qualifiers and suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat at Cyprus on Saturday.
``We ask the Irish public to stand by us because we will get it right,'' Staunton said Tuesday. ``I know that, and we will give everything we've got tomorrow night.''
Staunton, who played 102 times for Ireland, has coached the team since January _ his first coaching job. Ireland has lost all its games other than Staunton's opening 3-0 win against Sweden.
``We're not having the best of luck, but we have to get ourselves together and regroup because we owe one to the fans who travelled to Cyprus,'' Staunton said. ``The boys are trying their best, although you can't legislate for errors.''
Another loss would mark Ireland's worst start to a qualification campaign since it lost the first four in attempting to reach the 1962 World Cup.
Staunton's predecessor, Brian Kerr, lost four of the 32 games he was in charge and just two of those were qualifiers.
Before losing a friendly 4-0 to the Netherlands in August, Ireland had a good record at Lansdowne Road stadium and has won its last two matches against the Czech Republic _ a 2-1 win in March 2004 and a 3-2 victory in February 2000.
The Czech Republic, however, leads Group D with three wins from three matches.
``We lost our two last matches against Ireland, but I hope it was just a bad luck,'' goalkeeper Petr Cech said. ``It will be difficult. They are very experienced players and they will not allow another blow (after Cyprus).''
Staunton has been under considerable pressure, with one Irish newspaper branding him a ``muppet'' _ a term of criticism once used by former Ireland captain Roy Keane.
``I'll take it on the chin,'' Staunton said. ``There's nothing you can do. I can't go out and buy players.''
Defender John O'Shea said Saturday's performance was ``very, very humiliating.''
``(He) is trying to do the right things . . . learning all the time and we are learning from him all the time,'' O'Shea said. ``He's got to get his ideas across to us, and that's what he's working hard to do. We have faith in him.''
While the Czechs are injury-free, Staunton is again without first-choice goalkeeper Shay Given, defender Stephen Carr, and midfielders Steven Reid and Graham Kavanagh.
He'll also be without suspended defender Richard Dunne, who scored against Cyprus but was sent off.
Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, midfielder Stephen Ireland (both hamstring), striker Kevin Doyle (ankle), defender Andy O'Brien (ankle) and winger Aiden McGeady (ankle) all withdrew Tuesday.
``I'm not making excuses, but I don't think many countries could cope with the amount of injuries we've had,'' Staunton said.
Staunton would only confirm that his defence will consist of Paul McShane, John O'Shea, Steve Finnan and Stephen Kelly. It will be McShane's international debut, while Kelly has only two caps.
Goalkeeper Wayne Henderson, who has two appearances for Ireland as a substitute, is expected to start ahead of Nicky Colgan.
Staunton has called up midfielder Lee Carsley, who last played for Ireland 2{ years ago.
The Czechs have nine points after Saturday's 7-0 win over San Marino, three more than Germany and Slovakia, and six more than Cyprus. Ireland, Wales and San Marino have no points.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
