Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the World Cup qualifier between Georgia and Republic of Ireland.

With England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all recording convincing wins on Friday night, it is now the turn of Republic of Ireland to try to improve their chances of qualifying for the World Cup Finals in Russia. Martin O'Neill's side sit joint-top of Group D but don't expect the Green Army to have it all their own way in Tbilisi.

Georgia have not won a match during this qualification campaign but with three draws to their name - including a point against Cardiff in Wales - they will certainly be no pushovers. They can't earn an appearance at next year's tournament, but with pride and seedings for the next qualification season at stake, expect a strong outing from the home team.

Anyway, without further ado, let's crack on with the team news, starting with Republic of Ireland.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND XI: Randolph, Christie, Clark, Duffy, Ward, Whelan, Arter, Brady, McClean, Walters, Long

There are not too many surprises in that Irish side, although Wes Hoolahan may have expected to feature in place of either Jonathan Walters or Shane Long, who will seemingly form a two-man attack. Harry Arter wins just his seventh cap in the centre of midfield.

GEORGIA XI: Makaridze, Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Kashia, Navalovski, Kvekveskiri, Gvilia, Jigauri, Ananidze, Qazaishvili, Kvilitaia

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the ninth time in which these teams have faced each other, with Republic of Ireland winning each previous meeting. However, don't be fooled into thinking it will be one-way traffic. The last three contests have been decided by a one-goal margin. The most recent game on Georgian soil came in 2014 as Aiden McGeady netted a second goal in the final minute to earn a dramatic 2-1 win for the visitors.

PREDICTION! We aren't expecting many goals in this match. The last two matches, which have been played in Dublin, have ended in a 1-0 win to Republic of Ireland so Georgia know how to nullify this Irish team. We are going to go for a 1-1 draw.

The two nations have made their way out in Tbilisi. It's certainly not a full house but there is a big enough Irish contingent to try to spur their players on.

Georgia have got the game underway.

It has been a fast start from Georgia, but Ireland have also got into their stride. The temperatures are pretty stifling, so I don't expect this game to be played at a ferocious pace.

Wow. What a start from the Republic of Ireland. Duffy has scored a header from 16 yards. However, you need some context...

Christie's free kick from the halfway line finds Duffy at the far side of the penalty area and he beats Makaridze - who came rushing miles out of his goal - to the ball and the ball finds the bottom corner. It's a huge clanger from the goalkeeper but Ireland won't care.

Credit to Georgia, they are providing a positive response to going behind but they are yet to create a chance in front of goal. They are setting the tempo, however, and Ireland are doing chasing they do not want to be doing.

Ireland have come back into it over the past couple of minutes, but it is still generally all Georgia, despite the scoreline. Ireland need to try to get more time on the ball because they are putting plenty of effort into chasing the ball.

CHANCE! A long-range effort isn't going on target but Duffy is required to slide in to divert the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting set piece, a header is directed well wide of the post.

CHANCE! Georgia have had all the play but Ireland should be 2-0 ahead. An exquisite cross from the right from Walters find McClean, but his header from 10 yards goes wide of the far post.

LATEST! Serbia have gone ahead against Moldova. Ireland's rivals are expected to come through against the group's bottom team with flying colours and it certainly looks like they are going to at this stage.

Back come Georgia, with a cross having to be punched clear by Randolph. I'm not sure a home player was going to get on the end of the delivery, but Randolph needed to deal with it.

When Georgia play this, you have to wonder how they haven't had more success in this group, and in general. They are losing this game but they look extremely solid in all departments, aside from Makaridze's shaky moment in goal.

LATEST! Serbia are now two goals to the good against Moldova. I think it is safe to say that they are going to win that game.

CHANCE! Half an opportunity for Long, who chests the ball down to give himself the chance to get a volley away, but his effort goes a few yards over the crossbar.

What a brilliant goal, and it is fully deserved. A neat move involving a number of players is finished off by Qazaishvili, who keeps his composure inside the penalty area before slotting the ball under Randolph from 10 yards.

Republic of Ireland are very much on the rack. I wouldn't go as far as saying that they need half time, but they need to improve or else they will fall behind in this match. Georgia are putting in a performance not befitting of a team who have not won in six qualifying fixtures.

SHOT! The home side fancy this. Kvekveskiri's lets fly with a low drive from 30 yards but despite a deflection, Randolph is able to dive to his right to keep the effort out.

CHANCE! The first half started with a Duffy goal and it nearly ended with one too. Brady's cross from the defender at the back post but his powerful header back across goal was well saved by Makaridze. There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes in Tbilisi and Republic of Ireland are fortunate to be on level terms with Georgia. The visitors have had chances, but Georgia have dominated possession. This match is very finely poised. Martin O'Neill's side cannot afford a defeat.

Republic of Ireland get us back underway.

CHANCE! The shot was taken from outside of the penalty area but Ananidze should be at least hitting the target instead of curling a low effort wide of Randolph's post.

We have picked up where we left off before the break. It's all Georgia, with Republic of Ireland finding themselves sat well too deep.

I can't see it being too long before O'Neill makes a change, either to change things up or to freshen his midfield. They are spending minimal time on the ball and Georgia's pressure is likely to pay off sooner rather than later.

SHOT! A long throw from Christie is only half cleared to Arter, but the Bournemouth midfielder's volley is straight at the goalkeeper.

SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from O'Neill. Arter has been withdrawn for Aiden McGeady. Not sure how Ireland plan on lining up now!

Slowly but surely, Ireland are beginning to get on top. It's now Georgia having to do the chasing. It makes you wonder whether the home team have put too much into the first hour of this game.

CHANCE! Big, big chance for Ireland. They break with pace through Christie and McClean and it is five on three in the penalty area. However, Christie's cross finds the smallest player - Long - and his header is sent over the crossbar.

All things considered, Ireland would probably take a draw from this game, but there's just a glimmer of hope that the three points may be there for the taking. Georgia are still offering bursts going forward, but the tempo is now being decided by the visitors.

SHOT! The match is really starting to open up and Brady decides to try his luck from range. However, his strike is too close to the goalkeeper, despite making a sweet connection.

CHANCE! This is a decent effort from Kvilitaia, who gets plenty of power behind a header from about 15 yards out, but his attempt goes marginally off target.

SHOT! I think this was a shot, but it could have been a cross. McClean drills the ball towards the near post, but the goalkeeper gets a hand in the way. Daryl Murphy is on for Whelan.

Ireland are still throwing everything at this game, but you suspect that O'Neill may reach a point where he will settle for a point. A draw, and a win over Serbia on Tuesday evening, would take Ireland to the top of the group.

CHANCE! What this the moment! Long keeps the ball in and plays in McClean, who controls the ball and advances into the penalty area before seeing his shot smothered by Makaridze from eight yards out.

SHOT! Mchedlidze almost wins it for Georgia. He is given far too much time and space on the edge of the penalty area but his low strike just misses the far post. There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes in Georgia and after McGeady spurned a late chance, Republic of Ireland are left to settle for a 1-1 draw. O'Neill's side extend their unbeaten record in Group D to seven games but they lose ground on Serbia, who beat Moldova by a 3-0 scoreline.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope that you can stick around for the match involving Wales and Austria. Goodbye for now.