Windsor win over Austria on Sunday now a must
NORTHERN Ireland will wonder how they didn’t win at the Aviva Stadium against the Republic.
Golden opportunities came and went as the visitors outpassed and, on occasions, outclassed their opponents in last night’s scoreless draw.
As well as Michael O’Neill’s side played in Dublin, however, once again they failed to find the net on the road.
If you don’t score goals, you don’t win football matches and that is becoming a growing problem for Northern Ireland away from home.
O’Neill will hope that his players are saving them up for the Euro 2020 qualifiers!
That’s seven away matches in a row now that Northern Ireland have fired blanks but the performance offered much hope to the manager.
Republic counterpart and namesake Martin could not say the same. He will have been mighty relieved that his team got away without losing this friendly thanks to the efforts of Darren Randolph.
The Republic goalkeeper was named man of the match which said it all in terms of their performance.
Little wonder the home fans booed at the final whistle. This was another unconvincing, laboured and lacklustre effort from their side.
They go to Denmark in the Nations League on Monday. Defeat there and the pressure will intensify on Northern Ireland’s 1982 World Cup skipper.
Northern Ireland host Austria on Sunday in the same tournament and although they have been relegated to tier three in that event, there will be greater optimism about the future in their ranks.
What they need now are goals and a victory at Windsor Park to really put them in fine fettle ahead of the Euro qualifying campaign.
In Dublin, Northern Ireland controlled the game virtually from the start. All that was missing was a finishing touch.
In the first half Gavin Whyte will feel he should have provided it after brilliant approach play from Liam Boyce and Stuart Dallas set the Oxford United winger clear. Normally so ruthless in those situations, the former Crusaders star was denied by the alert Randolph.
After the break Jordan Jones, who replaced the lively Whyte, did superbly to dispossess Darragh Lenihan and break free. The Kilmarnock winger was primed to become a hero but Randolph’s leg deflected his shot wide.
There were other opportunities for the visitors with Craig Cathcart, Michael Smith and the tireless Stuart Dallas off target. The Leeds United star also forced a save from Randolph after a clever Steven Davis pass offered him an invitation to run at the home defence while Boyce was inches away from scoring after a wicked cross from the impressive Michael Smith.
There was an air of positivity surrounding the Northern Ireland display which belied recent results. In contrast, the Republic were poor and ponderous with their only threat coming from set pieces.
There had been much debate in the run-up to the derby about James McClean. The Londonder- ry-born Stoke City winger has been one of the best players in recent times for the Republic but he was ineffective going forward last night.
Every time he touched the ball he was booed by the Northern Ireland supporters who taunted him with chants of ‘James McClean, he’s one of our own’.
McClean, taken off after 66 minutes, wasn’t the only one of Martin O’Neill’s team having an off night. So many disappointed.
How the Green and White Army (left) loved it when McClean smacked a couple off shots way over the bar.
They also enjoyed the dominance of their team singing constantly in the Aviva stadium hailing stars of the past like George Best and David Healy as well as the present.
In contrast, the home fans were silent for the most part. Hardly surprising given a distinct lack of inspiration from their players.
The Republic supporters were at their loudest before the game booing God Save the Queen with the 2,000 strong Northern Ireland support replying in kind when the Soldier’s Song was played. Derby rivalry and all that!
As a player, Michael O’Neill took on the Republic four times and never beat them. He will feel as a manager he should have broken that duck last night.
This was one that definitely got away from Northern Ireland.