New Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is pleased with the results of his first two games in charge, but admits that they have a lot of improving to do.

Martin O'Neill has acknowledged that the Republic of Ireland have a lot of improving to do despite him overseeing a "really enjoyable" first two games in charge.

The former Sunderland boss guided Ireland to a 3-0 victory over Latvia on Friday and a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Poland on Tuesday to ensure an unbeaten start to his management tenure.

O'Neill is pleased with the Republic's latest result and performance and has insisted that the international friendlies have proved a useful exercise for him to learn things about his squad.

"We are away from home and it's a good result for us in that sense," O'Neill told reporters. "Lots of things, we can improve on and the players think that themselves. Tonight was tough going, but we saw it through.

"I thought we started very well and got it down and played it. We lost a little bit of shape in the last 10 minutes of the first half, and the changes we made disrupted the rhythm.

"But at the end of it all, there were loads of things to take out of it. Results and performance are very, very important. It's been really enjoyable for me."

O'Neill was appointed Giovanni Trapattoni's successor as Ireland boss earlier this month, with former Republic captain Roy Keane named as his number two.