IRISH BOSS TRUSTS BOYS TO DELIVER WHEN IT MATTERS
N IRELAND V BULGARIA 7.45PM
NORTHERN Ireland boss Ian Baraclough insists his players can handle the pressure of tonight’s must-win qualifier against Bulgaria in Belfast.
The Irish know they need to record their maiden victory in 90 minutes under Baraclough – in his 11th match in charge
– if they are going to be in the mix for the 2022 World Cup.
The home team are six points behind joint Group C leaders Italy and Switzerland with a game in hand.
But the manager believes his players can deliver in the big matches.
“It doesn’t bother me because we know when we’ve been asked before in these one-off games, and the pressure has been ramped up, more often than not this group of players have come out on top,” said Baraclough, below.
“As a group we target games like this where we put pressure on ourselves to win, and put ourselves in a good position going towards the autumn games.”
Baraclough knows the
Irish must be better at both ends of the pitch if they are going to beat Bulgaria atWindsor Park.
His side have not kept a clean sheet in his 10 games, and have scored just seven goals.
He claims his forwards will deliver this time and revealed one of his assistants, the former Aston Villa and Celtic striker Tommy Johnson, has been giving them specialist coaching.
“All you ask is for players to be in form when they come into camp,”said Baraclough.
Skipper Steven Davis will eclipse Peter Shilton’s 31-year British record for most caps when he makes his 126th appearance.
And Davis thanked the England legend for congratulating him on his feat.
“It was a really classy touch from him,” said the Rangers midfielder.
“He held the record for quite a while, so for him to get in touch and congratulate me was very touching.”