BURNLEY midfielder Jeff Hendrick believes Ireland's big game mentality played a key part in Martin O'Neill's side securing a World Cup play-off place.

The Irish overcame Wales 1-0 in Cardiff on Monday night to beat Chris Coleman's side to second place in Group CC meaning a two-legged November clash stands between Hendrick & Co and a place in Russia.

And the Clarets ace, who has been in fine form at club level, said he always felt Ireland would cope with the pressure.

He said: "It was hard work, we knew it would be, but we always said that once we had one game it’s a do-or-die and when it comes to the big games this group of lads show up.

“I think everybody that plays us knows they are in for a hard game. We might not pass the ball as much as other countries but we’ve got the spirit and it’s great to do it for the fans.

“We’ve got two big games, we’ve just got to keep going and we’ve got to show that spirit again.”

The Irish will be unseeded for next week's play-off draw and so cannot face Northern Ireland but the likes of Italy and Croatia are possible opponents.

Hendrick was one of four Burnley players involved in the win over Wales with Stephen Ward and Robbie Brady also starting the game while Kevin Long came on as a late sub. A fifth Claret, Jonathan Walters, missed out through injury.

And Hendrick, who played a key role in the winning goal when he robbed Ashley Williams of possession before finding James McClean to score, said pressurising the Welsh players on the ball was part of the gameplan.

He added: "In the first half they had a lot of time on the ball. Whenever we pressed we thought they could give us something.

"We just gambled on it and James put it in the back of the net."

One potential sour note for the Irish is whether Brady will face a ban after appearing to flick his head in the direction of Williams.

The episode was caught on camera and the midfielder will have to discover whether Fifa will take any disciplinary action against him.

For Wales, it means the long wait for a place in a World Cup will stretch past 60 years.

Clarets striker Sam Vokes came off the bench as the home side searched for an equaliser and the 27-year-old felt the Welsh were unfortunate to be on the wrong end of the scoreline.

"It is a tough one to take," he said. "I thought we played well and dominated the game. They had one chance and took it well and made it hard for us to get back into into it.

"I thought we created chances but they are compact in midfield and make it hard to play around.

"The lads can hold their heads up high."