Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SLOT AND BAILEY
Keeper convinced things will slip into place for Northern Ireland
REDEMPTION man Bailey Peacock-farrell believes Northern Ireland are one win away from clicking under Ian Baraclough.
Wednesday’s dispiriting 0-0 draw with Bulgaria made it eight games without a win and just one point from two qualifiers in a daunting World Cup group.
Momentum has proven elusive for Michael O’neill’s successor who saw Stuart Dallas rattle the bar and his players dominate 70 per cent of possession against the Bulgarians.
But Peacock-farrell, who made a stunning 92nd minute save to prevent a shock defeat at Windsor Park, is confident Northern Ireland’s luck will turn.
Two summer friendlies are incoming against Turkey and Ukraine in May and June before the World Cup campaign resumes in early-september.
“We are so close to things falling for us,” he said. “It is just that final moment that we need to nail down and when that clicks everything else will take care of itself.
“I think the way we played against Bulgaria showed some very promising things and on any other night some of those shots go in and it’s a completely different game.
“We just have to keep going. It’ll be one of those moments where it falls for us and we start scoring one or two goals in a game again.”
While Northern Ireland now face an uphill task in a pool where
Italy are firm favourites to qualify automatically, Peacock-farrell isn’t ruling out a late run for second spot and the playoffs.
“Is there still hope? Yes, of course,” he said.
“Right now we are disappointed and deflated because it was a must-win game against Bulgaria, especially at home.
“We are going to have to do something remarkable against one of the bigger teams now or something that’s not expected. We have left ourselves no other choice.”
While Peacock-farrell shipped flak for Italy’s second goal in a 2-0 defeat in Parma last Thursday, he redeemed himself with a wonder save against the Bulgarians.
Dimitar Iliev’s injury time header looked destined for the roof of the net, but the 24-year-old full length to claw the ball out for a corner.
Asked if the criticism affected him after being beaten at his neat post against the Italians, he said: “It would take a lot more than that to knock me.
“The goal against Italy sums up goalkeeping. You let one in and then make a save like that against Bulgaria. It’s just how it is.
“It can be difficult for any player dealing with that (the criticism) and keeper mistakes are punished more, but like I said it’ll take a lot more than that to affect me.”