Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given says he and his rival for the shirt David Forde did speak after Martin O'Neill decided to start the Aston Villa man in goal against Poland.

Given got the nod, even though Millwall's Forde has been the main man in goals over the last couple of years.

Given conceded once in the first half, but was not tested further by Poland during the match. But tonight he told Off The Ball that he only found out he was starting ahead of Forde an hour and a half before kick off and admitted that the two did share a few words.

Given dejected after Poland's first goal ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

"We did speak briefly, me and David. We are a tight group, the goalkeepers in general so whoever gets the nod, the other goalkeepers will be supportive. Last night, I would have been the same for him and vice-versa. We are a close-knit group and supportive and when [Forde found out I was playing], you need that because we all have the same goal," said Given, who also said the performance was "encouraging" from his vantage point. 

But he also gave us an insight into the  Slawomir Peszko goal that he conceded after errors from the defenders in front of him.

"I'm my worst critic and we had a couple of chances to clear it. Brady probably should have cleared it and then Wilson had a chance to clear it. To be honest [the ball] went past me in a blur. It was one of those true strikes when he hit it. It flew off his foot and gone just inside the post," said the Donegal man, who mused that had he had time to set himself by a millisecond, he might have been able to get something on the shot to divert it away from goal.