JONES GUTTED
Randolph denies him winner
JORDAN JONES was left “devastated” after spurning a late chance to write his name in Northern Ireland folklore at The Aviva.
The Kilmarnock winger was gifted a glorious chance to become only the third northern player to score against the Republic in Dublin when he raced clear in the 72nd minute.
But with only Darren Randolph to beat, his rising shot cannoned off the Middlesbrough keeper’s body and over the bar.
So agonisingly close – yet so far – from joining Iain Dowie who scored in a 1-1 draw in a European qualifier in 1995 and Danny Griffin who scored the winner in a 1-0 friendly triumph in 1999.
“I’m devastated – it was a really big chance,” said Jones, who enjoyed a bright cameo after replacing Gavin Whyte in the 61st minute.
“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 back; I was going at full pace and he came out really quickly but I’m just gutted not to score.”
With Gavin
Whyte also spurning a glorious oneon-one with
Randolph early in the first-half, it was another frustrating night in front of goal for
Michael
O’neill’s men. In eight of their last 11 games, they have failed to score, although Jones insists positives will be taken from last night’s front foot display at The Aviva. At the same time, he knows Northern Ireland have to start taking their chances if they’re to have any hope of making an impact on the Euro 2020 qualifiers which kick-off in March.
The draw for the competition is made in Dublin on December 2.
“We had a lot more clear-cut chances than they had and I think we were the much better team on the night,” said Jones.
“I should have scored and Gavin also had a really good chance. Obviously we’ve 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 we know we have to start putting those chances away. I’m sure that will come.”
While last night’s 0-0 draw between Austria and Bosnia relegates Northern Ireland to the third tier of the Nations League, Jones is eager to end the campaign on a high note. Ahead of Sunday’s final group game against the Austrians in Belfast, he said: “We just need to go into Sunday now and try to win the game. “Michael has made it clear we need to start winning games again and that’s our aim.”