Image source, Reuters

England win a free-kick about 25 yards from goal and Wayne Rooney fancies it. He goes for accuracy rather than power and tries to bend it into the top corner, but it doesn't have the pace to catch out Keiren Westwood, who gets across to make the catch.

Still, it's a shot on target.

Clive Allen
BBC Radio 5 live in Dublin

Image source, Reuters

"Shane Long is looking to run at England whenever he can and all of a sudden the England defence are having to reorganise to cope with it."

Martin O'Neill makes his third change as Daryl Murphy goes off, with Stoke striker Jon Walters on in his place. Shane Long has looked lively since his introduction, will Walters have a similar impact?

Rob Meech: Whenever Wayne Rooney goes a couple of weeks without playing his touch completely deserts him and he looks terrible.

Yinka: Record or not, Rooney should be off, clearly still on holiday.

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Image source, Getty Images

Raheem Sterling has moved alongside Wayne Rooney in attack as England go 4-4-2 for this half and the Liverpool youngster is already looking more threatening in a central role, curling a shot about three yards wide of the post. It wouldn't take much, but this half is already more entertaining than the first.

England are almost punished immediately as Republic of Ireland win a free-kick midway inside the England half. Robbie Brady is again the man tasked with taking it and he curls towards the near post, Joe Hart's there but fumbles behind.

Clive Allen
BBC Radio 5 live in Dublin

Image source, Getty Images

"At the moment, Wayne Rooney's mind's not on the game. The ball to him was perfect but his touch let him down. Any good touch would have given him the opportunity to get closer to that record."

Oh my! What happened there!?

Wayne Rooney has a glorious chance to edge closer to Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record for England as Jordan Henderson gets clear of the Republic of Ireland defence and breaks forward with Rooney in company. Henderson squares the ball and it seems like a certain goal for Rooney, but his first touch is a horror show and he scuffs the ball straight into the hands of Keiren Westwood. Shocking.

Republic of Ireland make two changes for the second half as Shane Long comes on for David McGoldrick, while James McClean replaces James McCarthy.

No changes for England, who get the second half under way.

Image source, .

If you are just joining us, here's a summary of what you missed in the first half:

Republic of Ireland kicked the game off.

That's it.

VB: If England play lethargically it's because they haven't rested enough mid-season, or because they have rested too much? Huh?

Jason Trillo: Sterling is worth how much?!? After this performance, you'd be lucky to get him for a few pennies.

Eyobel gomini: Phil Jones is a decent CB but absolutely not a RB, Neither Chris Smalling! Bring on Nathaniel Clyne!

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Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

"England's first-half display is summed up by the fact it took them 44 minutes to have a shot on goal - and that was a wayward effort from distance by Adam Lallana. Ireland have looked marginally more dangerous but Daryl Murphy has wasted their best two chances of what has been a very low key first 45 minutes."

Honestly, that half was such a non event that the two sets of fans took to taunting each other with a bit of a sing off.

Clive Allen
BBC Radio 5 live in Dublin

Image source, PA

"The tempo is too slow and there's not a lot of quality. The coaches will be looking at how the players are performing in their individual roles ahead of the qualifiers.

"There's no doubt there's an eye on what's coming up, rather than just today's match."

...Joe Hart is able to pluck the ball out of the air from the corner and that's the last action of a hugely forgettable first half.

Get Charlie Austin or Jamie Vardy on. This game needs something liven it up.

Just the one minute of stoppage time is announced and England have a bit of defending to do as Aiden McGeady charges forward, slips th ball into the path of David McGoldrick, whose shot is put behind and the hosts have a corner...

First booking of the game as James McCarthy sees yellow after he hacks down Jack Wilshere, who has had a quiet game so far.