Heimir Hallgrimsson has warned the Republic of Ireland they have to stop presenting gifts to their opponents if they are to qualify for major tournaments once again.

Three days after Nathan Collins’ error had handed Finland a lead in Helsinki, keeper Caoimhin Kelleher blundered in Athens to allow Greece to ease to a 2-0 Nations League B2 victory.

Ireland had rallied at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium after Tasos Bakasetas’ opener, but Hallgrimsson’s men were threatening to snatch a point when misfortune struck.

The head coach said: “It was like a little bit of pressure was off, maybe comparing that to the Finland game as well, so it looked like when we have nothing to lose, we start to play like we should.

“And then again Christmas in October again for us. We’re giving too many gifts to the opponent.”

Kelleher had at times represented a one-man barrier to Greek ambition, saving from Giorgos Masouras, Bakasetas and Dimitris Giannoulis amid a first-half onslaught to keep his side in it.

He was eventually beaten when Bakasetas’ 48th-minute shot took a significant deflection off Liam Scales and evaded him, but he had to hold his hands up for the second goal, which arrived in stoppage time.