Danish heartbreak was tough but we’re ready to go again: Dunwoody

STOKE City star Jake Dunwoody has spoken about his mixed emotions following Northern Ireland’s agonising under-21 defeat in Denmark.

Dunwoody netted his first international goal in Thursday’s Euro 2021 qualifier and it looked as though it would earn Ian Baraclough’s youngsters a 1-1 draw only for Jens Odgaard to score a stunning overhead kick winner on 86 minutes.

The late strike means Northern Ireland dare not lose their Group 8 clash in Romania tonight otherwise their hopes of qualification for the finals will be faint at best.

Only the group winners are certain to qualify along with the top runner-up from the nine groups. The other second placed teams enter the play-offs.

Northern Ireland could really do with a win in Romania this evening and will be helped by having Linfield striker Shayne Lavery and Cardiff defender Ciaron Brown in the ranks after Michael O’Neill released them from his senior squad to join up with the Under-21s.

They could also do with midfielder Dunwoody delivering in front of goal as he did in Denmark.

“I had a few chances earlier in the group against Malta and Finland so I was very pleased to

score my first international goal and I know my family will be proud,” stated Dunwoody.

“It’s annoying we didn’t get the point we deserved. If we had come away with a draw we would have been buzzing. It was a tough one to take with them scoring so late on but we left with our heads held high and look forward to our next game.”

Baraclough added: “Jake is an attacking midfielder who has a goal threat. He is good technically and I thought he topped off a good performance with a well taken goal

“Overall I felt we were going to get a point in Denmark but then they won the game with a wonder goal. Now we have to recover and get ready to play another good side.”