It’s half-time and we must come roaring back in the Basel return — Norwood
MIDFIELDER Ollie Norwood says the current mindset of the Northern Ireland players is that they are 1-0 down at half-time and need a big second period performance to overcome Switzerland.
The Swiss hold the advantage having scored what could be a crucial away goal at Windsor Park on Thursday night, but Fulham ace Norwood insists Northern Ireland will be fuelled by the fact they are still just 90 minutes away from the World Cup finals in Russia.
Michael O’Neill’s team need to come out in Basel tomorrow and be a major attacking force and Norwood believes Northern Ireland have the players capable of turning this tie around.
The Burnley-born star said: “We have nothing to lose and it’s still all to play for. It’s half-time in the tie and we’re 1-0 down. We go away from home now and we’ ll give it a right good go in Basel.
“We’ve got to pick ourselves up, regroup and go again.”
Northern Ireland, especially in the first half against the Swiss, were on the backfoot, soaking up a lot of pressure and Norwood believes credit must go to Vladimir Petkovic’s side.
The 26-year-old said: “We knew they were a very good team and we tried to get after them early but they kept the ball well and didn’t give us a chance to do that.
“Maybe our set-piece execution wasn’t as good as it’s been throughout the campaign. That is something we will be looking to improve on in Basel.”
Norwood will be without his midfield partner Corry Evans tomorrow after the Blackburn ace was shown a yellow card, his second of the campaign, for a ‘handball’ inside the penalty box following a Xherdan Shaqiri shot.
Replays proved the decision, which led to Switzerland’s only goal, was a grave injustice as it clearly hit Evans’ back. But Norwood refused to join in the blame game on referee Ovidiu Hategan.
He continued: “I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s frustrating, but we’re still in the tie and we can’t let that affect us too much.
“It’s disappointing, but we’ll regroup and as always we’ ll come back and give it a right good go.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty, I don’t think anybody appealed.
“It is what it is and we don’t want to get into trouble for making comments.
“We’ll let you lot (the media) do that and write stories about it.
“As players it’s up to us to just deal with it and as I say, go again on Sunday.”
HISTORY is against Northern Ireland in Basel tomorrow night. No team, having lost their home match in the first leg of a play-off, has ever qualified for the World Cup finals.
Northern Ireland are licking their wounds following Switzerland’s controversial 1-0 win at Windsor Park. They feel aggrieved and dismayed that Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan ruled against them in such a devastating manner.
Tomorrow night Northern Ireland will be entering a Swiss fortress. Switzerland have only ever lost twice competitively at St Jakob Park in 16 years (both times to England in 2010 and 2014).
Optimistic striker Josh Magennis argues Northern Ireland have been breaking records for the last four years and now they are primed and ready to heap World Cup disappointment on the Swiss.
The Charlton hitman insists with the game at the ‘half time’ stage Northern Ireland, despite being outplayed for the majority of the match on Thursday night, can improve dramatically and score the goals needed to book their ticket to Russia next summer.
The 27 year-old Bangor lad, who is likely to start on the right flank again in Basel, points to the fact that Northern Ireland were viewed as down and out after their opening defeat to Poland in Euro 2016, yet roared back with one of the most impressive performances against Ukraine and won 2-0 in Lyon.
“Well, there is a first time for everything,” said Magennis, when asked if Northern Ireland could stun world football by becoming the first team to go through after losing their home leg.
“We’re not worried about that stat. We will just go out to win the game.
“It’s the same sort of scenario as in the Euros when we had to beat Ukraine. We’re 1-0 down with 90 minutes to play.”
Magennis accepts Northern Ireland did not perform to the level the Green and White Army have become accustomed to in recent times at Windsor Park, but with all the pressure now on the Swiss, Michael O’Neill’s men will be gunning to exploit any vulnerability.
“They probably had a bit more possession but we didn’t get dominated or cut apart to the extent we did against Germany,” stated Magennis.
“It was back and forth, sussing each other out. Neither team created clear-cut chances. It was just a penalty that decided the game which is unfortunate.
“We’re going there to rock and roll while their manager has a decision whether to play the same or try to defend the lead.
“We know we have to score, we have to win. We have to score more goals than them.