Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Offical Match Programme

MANAGER’S

VIEW

We had a battling draw in Prague followed by an

I\TIGXIH [MR MR &IPJEWX ERH E HIJIEX MR ,ERRSZIV

Of course, that last sentence does not tell the

whole story.

A draw away from home against one of your main

rivals is a positive start, but the San Marino team

made us work hard for the home victory and we

can once again be thankful for Steven Davis who

[EW QEKRMƤGIRX JVSQ FIKMRRMRK XS IRH ERH - [EW

particularly pleased that Kyle was able to bag two

goals from the bench, showing just what he can do

if he gets game time.

The match in Hannover could have been very

different. At 2-0 down after 17 minutes against

Germany we were facing a huge challenge but this

XIEQ EVI RSXLMRK MJ RSX ƤKLXIVW ERH HIWTMXI XLI

world champions having much more of the ball we

dug in and didn’t deserve to lose any more goals.

Few teams, if any, in this campaign group will come

back from Germany with points - and that makes

tonight’s match all the more important.

Azerbaijan have started with two wins and a draw

but have yet to play Germany. They will come here

JYPP SJ GSRƤHIRGI ERH EW YWYEP [MPP RS HSYFX FI

VIWSPYXI MR HIJIRGI ERH HMJƤGYPX XS FVIEO HS[R

Tonight we face the fourth match

of our World Cup 2018 qualifying

campaign, and things have gone

as expected to date.

It is a game plan that we are prepared for. I

remember too painfully the last match they played

here in November 2012 when only a typical piece

of opportunistic quick thinking from David Healy

earned us a draw. We must be vigilant and ensure

that they cannot hit us on the break.

Looking at the group as a whole and how it is likely

to pan out, taking full points here at the National

Football Stadium will be vital as we strive to be in

the top two in the group and earn at least a play-off

spot.

However, this means we cannot go gung ho at

teams. Depending on the match and how it is going

we must be patient and wait for the opportunities

that undoubtedly will come, and I believe we have

the players who are capable of capitalising on such

opportunities when they arise.

Thank you again for all your support at the last

home match. It was great to play in the completed

stadium with support coming from all four sides –

if that doesn’t inspire you nothing will!.

Michael O’Neill

2SVXLIVR -VIPERH 1EREKIV