I should have opened my NI account but the goals will come, says Jones
HONEST Jordan Jones left the Aviva Stadium last night“devastated” and “gutted” after the Kilmarnock winger admitted he missed a glorious chance to score his first Northern Ireland goal which would have sunk a desperately poor Republic side.
Jones was given a 29 minute second half cameo role by boss Michael O’Neill after replacing the exciting Gavin Whyte and added impetus to Northern Ireland’s play.
But he was deflated and frustrated on 72 minutes when he caught Blackburn’s Darragh Lenihan in possession, raced into the box and with only keeper Darren Randolph to beat, he attempted to direct his shot into the bottom corner. But the Middlesbrough stopper, quick off his line, appeared an imposing figure in front of Jones, and the Northern Ireland substitute watched in agony as Randolph’s foot deflected his effort away.
“I’m devastated. It was a really big chance and I’m just gutted not to score,” said Jones, who was winning his fourth cap.
“I’ve watched it back and it’s a good save but you’ve got to score from there. It’s obviously very different watching it; I was going full pace and he came out really quickly but I’m just gutted not to score.”
It was just one of a number of opportunities Northern Ireland failed to convert which would have been ample reward for their supremacy over a Republic side who were booed off the pitch by their supporters at the end.
Jones watched from the bench in the first half as Whyte was played in with just Randolph to beat but once again the Middlesbrough man made a good save. Northern Ireland, similar to performances against Austria and Bosnia, failed to be clinical in the final third.
“I think we were the much better team on the night; I should have scored, Gavin had a really good chance and we’ve had a lot more clear-cut chances than they had,” added Jones.
“Obviously we have got to take the positives but chances have to be put away and we should be leaving here with a win. I wouldn’t say the failure to score is a concern but us as players know we have to start putting those chances away but I’m sure that will come.”
Jones and his team-mates, while disappointed not to win the international derby, must pick themselves up and be ready for the challenge of Austria on Sunday.
“You know what to expect coming into these big games and I think all the players handled it well,” conceded Jones.
“I really do think we were the better team on the night and should have won the game.
“We just need to go into Sunday night and try to win the game.” Bad luck: Jordan Jones knows he should have scored Away from Dublin, a 0-0 draw between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vienna confirmed Northern Ireland’s relegation from League B of the Nations League, and ensured Sunday’s game against Austria at Windsor Park will be a dead rubber. Northern Ireland’s campaign in the competition proved deeply frustrating, with the opening home defeat against Bosnia — a match Michael O’Neill’s (above) men dominated but contrived to lose 2-1 — setting the tone.