Ireland match-winner McClean: Roy Keane would've killed me if I missed

Had James McClean not scored Ireland's only goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Austria, the West Brom winger joked assistant Roy Keane would have "killed" him.

A sweet pass from tricky teammate Wes Hoolahan allowed McClean to run into the box and slot a cool shot past goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan just after the interval.

Related - Watch: Wes 'Irish Messi' Hoolahan lays on perfect assist for McClean

It was Ireland's only shot on target throughout 90 minutes - both teams also hit the crossbar - but it was enough to hand the Boys in Green their first victory over Austria since 1963.

"If I'd missed the target, I think Roy would have killed me," McClean told Sky Sports. "Roy hammers us in training about making sure we hit the target. He drums that into us. So when I was going through I was just thinking if you hit the target you've always got a chance.

"I've managed to hit it sweetly, it flew through the 'keepers legs and hit the back of the net."

The crucial away goal keeps Ireland atop Group D on 10 points - six ahead of 30th-ranked Austria.

McClean now has eight tallies at the international level, but none bigger than Saturday's winner.

"I've been around four or five years and only now I seem to be finally nailing down a place and making that my own," the 27-year-old said. "You play on merit, by the performances you put in, so I've just got to keep playing well."