TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS JUST WON’T WASH

Washington demands final push to secure playoff

CONOR WASHINGTON says there can be no let-up in Northern Ireland’s bid to copper fasten a playoff spot for next summer’s World Cup.

Monday night’s gutsy 2-0 win over the Czech Republic at Windsor Park sealed at least second spot in Group C behind runaway leaders Germany.

Three points also edged the Green and White Army ever closer to a coveted place in November’s two legged shootout for Russia as one of the best eight runners-up.

As things stand Michael O’neill’s men would be very unfortunate to miss out on a playoff – even when you factor in losing the points gained against the bottom team in the pool.

But Washington is eager to put any slender doubts to bed by delivering two positive results in next month’s final double header against Germany at Windsor and Norway in Oslo.

The QPR striker said: “It’s great securing a top two finish and a big achievement, but it’s important we get results in our next two games.

“We want to pick up points in the last double header.

“We are in good form and we don’t want to take the foot off the gas.

“We don’t want to struggle in our next two games and then have to gee ourselves up. We want to keep this present run going.

“Our full focus will be on putting in two big displays against Germany and Norway before we even begin to think about the play-offs.”

Incredibly, Monday’s win made it seven clean sheets in eight pool games, while Norwich City keeper Michael Mcgovern has gone 613 minutes without conceding.

O’neill’s men have now won 12 and lost just two of their last 18 competitive fixtures dating back to the start of the successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in 2014.

Washington, who has yet to taste defeat in a home qualifier since declaring for Northern Ireland 20 months ago, said: “Ever since I’ve been in the squad, there has been a confidence we can get results.

“Even against the Czechs, we never got flustered when they had a lot of the ball and we executed our game plan to perfection really.

“The amount of possession they had was ridiculous, but Michael Mcgovern didn’t have to make a save. I thought we did really well in terms of stifling them.

“They didn’t create much and we got two goals from set-pieces which we work really hard on.”

West Bromwich Albion captain Jonny Evans opened the scoring with a close range header, before Chris Brunt made it

2-0 with a superb, curling freekick.

Washington is relishing

Northern

Ireland’s next qualifier at home to reigning world champions Germany on October 5.

He also believes boss O’neill will have a tactical master plan to stifle Joachim Low’s men who won the corresponding fixture 2-0 in Hannover.

“Michael O’neill has been absolutely brilliant for me personally and the team,” said Washington. “Tactically I think he gets it right every time.

“Obviously Germany is going to be really difficult, but we know what we are good at. If we can execute the gameplan like we did against the Czechs, there is no reason why we can’t get a result.”