Armstrong has low-down on Iran

Former NI star Gerry Armstrong is Mick McCarthy's ally

BBC Sport Online's Lyle Jackson goes behind the scenes in Dublin as Ireland prepare for their World Cup play-off against Iran

Republic manager Mick McCarthy turned to a former Northern Ireland star for help in the run-up to Saturday's World Cup play-off against Iran.

Gerry Armstrong, now a match analyst for several television companies, supplied McCarthy with videos of Iran's games in the Asian qualifiers.

Armstrong is something of a folk hero north of the border in Ireland.

He scored the winner in a memorable game at the 1982 World Cup finals when Billy Bingham's side pulled off a surprise 1-0 win over hosts Spain.

'The players sat down on the night before the match and watched it

Mick McCarthy

''The Iran team changed quite a lot during the qualifying campaign because of suspensions.

''So Mick was keen to see as many games as possible,'' said Armstrong.

''I covered the Asian games with Eurosport and was able to provide tapes of the matches against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.''

McCarthy said he was particularly interested in the Bahrain game.

''It is good to see that one as Iran were beaten 3-1,'' said the Republic manager.

''The players sat down on the night before the match and watched it.''

Armstrong, meanwhile, believes the Republic are justifiably favourites to get through to the World Cp finals in Korea and Japan.

''They are definitely a better side than Iran.

''But I believe they have to do the business in the first leg in Dublin,'' said the former Tottenham striker.

''I would say the Republic need a two- or three-goal cushion to take to Tehran.

Most of my players have never played a game in such low temperatures

Iran coach

Miroslav Blazevic

''There will be a hostile atmosphere there, with 120,000 passionate fans.

''Iran have three or four players who have played at a good standard in Europe.''

There will be 3,500 fanatical Iran supporters at Lansdowne for Saturday's first leg.

But it not the volume of support which is worrying their Croatian-born coach Miroslav Blazevic.

His biggest concern is the temperature in Dublin which has dropped to freezing.

After training at Dalymount Park on Thursday night, he ordered his backroom staff to go shopping for gloves and special shorts to keep the players warm.

''On the morning of the match I will be looking out of my hotel window to see what the weather is like,'' said Blazevic.

''Most of my players have never played a game in such low temperatures.''