We’re not physical but referees target us, insists Evans

JONNY EVANS claims it’s a ‘myth’ that Northern Ireland are a physical side and wants more protection from the referee in tomorrow’s clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Leicester defender was unhappy with Bulgarian official Georgi Kabakov during Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Austria in Vienna that left Michael O’Neill’s side pointless after two games.

Evans was flattened in the opening 20 seconds by West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic, who shouted in his face after scoring a 71st-minute winner following a battle between the two Premier League players.

Evans believes his nation is being punished unfairly because referees in Europe have the wrong impression of how they set out to play.

‘It’s a bit of a myth,’ he said. ‘It comes from the fact we play British football, but we’ve improved our disciplinary record in the last few years. Look at the physicality of Austria and the way they were in the game. The referee was poor in how he managed it. A lot of decisions went their way.

‘We were going for challenges and they were making obvious fouls which could be dangerous — especially if you’re in mid-air. That happened to me.

‘I’m not sure what to expect from the Bosnia game, but I think people underestimate the physicality in Europe.

‘They are a lot more clever than us in terms of buying fouls and more streetwise in how to control the referee. I think that’s a culture thing.’

Finnish referee Mattias Gestranius will take charge of the Sarajevo clash as Northern Ireland battle to avoid relegation from Group B3 following two defeats.

O’Neill was already without striker Kyle Lafferty and has now lost Will Grigg to injury, while Liam Boyce is receiving treatment.

‘If we go through the Nations League and people say we are relegated, I’m not going to have sleepless nights,’ said the Northern Ireland boss.

‘We are trying to develop the team.’