Mick McCarthy insists it will be hard for his Republic of Ireland players to break down Gibraltar's well-drilled defence in Saturday's Euro 2020 qualifier.
The match will be played on an artificial pitch at the Victoria Stadium but McCarthy says he will not use it as an excuse if his side struggle to adapt to the conditions.
Scotland suffered a humiliating 3-0 loss to Kazakhstan on an artificial surface on Thursday and McCarthy is desperate to avoid a similar fate.
"I don't whinge about what we have to do, there's no point," said the former Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich Town boss.
"The pitch is fine. I was on it and it's fine; it's just a different bounce.
"I guess the opposition, if they play on it regularly, they know it's a different surface and they will try to use it; it's almost like psychological warfare that one, with the plastic pitch. But we've just got to go and play on it and so we will get on with it."
Gibraltar won two games in the recent Nations League, including an excellent victory in Armenia, and McCarthy says he will not be under-estimating this weekend's opponents.
He added: "They make it really tough to play against. They just pack in and defend and try to catch you on the break. They can get on the ball and play a bit too. If we allow them to they will; they will certainly try and keep it.
"You've just got to go and adapt to your surroundings as far as I'm concerned, and so we'll make the best of it."
Gibraltar are 20/1 to draw Saturday's match while Republic of Ireland are 6/5 to finish in the top two of Euro 2020 Qualifying Group D.
View all Soccer betting
Mick McCarthy insists it will be hard for his Republic of Ireland players to break down Gibraltar's well-drilled defence in Saturday's Euro 2020 qualifier.
The match will be played on an artificial pitch at the Victoria Stadium but McCarthy says he will not use it as an excuse if his side struggle to adapt to the conditions.
Scotland suffered a humiliating 3-0 loss to Kazakhstan on an artificial surface on Thursday and McCarthy is desperate to avoid a similar fate.
"I don't whinge about what we have to do, there's no point," said the former Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich Town boss.
"The pitch is fine. I was on it and it's fine; it's just a different bounce.
"I guess the opposition, if they play on it regularly, they know it's a different surface and they will try to use it; it's almost like psychological warfare that one, with the plastic pitch. But we've just got to go and play on it and so we will get on with it."
Gibraltar won two games in the recent Nations League, including an excellent victory in Armenia, and McCarthy says he will not be under-estimating this weekend's opponents.
He added: "They make it really tough to play against. They just pack in and defend and try to catch you on the break. They can get on the ball and play a bit too. If we allow them to they will; they will certainly try and keep it.
"You've just got to go and adapt to your surroundings as far as I'm concerned, and so we'll make the best of it."
Gibraltar are 20/1 to draw Saturday's match while Republic of Ireland are 6/5 to finish in the top two of Euro 2020 Qualifying Group D.
Source: bet365.com