O’Neill is feeling blunder the weather after opening loss

Michael O’Neill was left frustrated after his side were mugged of the points.

Northern Ireland enjoyed 67 per cent possession and had 26 attempts at goal – compared to five for Bosnia – but dug themselves too big a hole by conceding two sloppy goals.

Boss O’Neill (below) said: “We’ve played a lot worse and won. To have the level of domination we had, the level of possession, it’s a sore one.

“It’s a good lesson as well because it shows the nature of international football – you do get punished.”

The home team bossed the opening half an hour but Haris Duljevic poked Bosnia in front in 37 minutes.

And a positive start to the second half was undone by a mix-up between Craig Cathcart and Bailey Peacock-Farrell that allowed Elvis Saric to make it 2-0. Sub Will

Northern Ireland......... 1 Bosnia-Herzegovina ... 2

Grigg hooked in a consolation goal in injury-time. O’Neill said: “The second goal and the nature of it was a little bit of a hammer blow. But to be fair they reacted well again, even between going 2-0 down and getting to the 96th minute we probably should have got a 2-2 out of the game at the very worst. “I’m disappointed with the result but in terms of how we played, the positivity of the team, how we pressed, it was what we were looking for.” Things might have been different if ref Pavel Kralovec had awarded a penalty in the opening minute when George Saville tumbled under a challenge from Ervin Zukanovic. O’Neill was certain it should have been a spot-kick, saying: “The defender leaves his leg there, George steps inside and there is contact.

“Away from home you maybe wouldn’t expect the ref to give that so early but certainly as the home team and given the nature of the incident, I was disappointed he didn’t give it.”

O’Neill picked PeacockFarrell ahead of the more experienced Michael McGovern and Trevor Carson, giving the Leeds keeper, 21, his first competitive start.

And the gaffer absolved him of blame for the second goal.

O’Neill said: “Young Bailey was exposed, he had to come and try and do something. We will not dwell on it too much.”

The manager added of the defeat: “It’s not a major setback. If this was a Euro 2020 qualification game it would be a different situation because you’ve lost a game at home and home points are vital.”