Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

WORDS: DARREN FULLERTON DAILY MIRROR

A cruel combination of misfortune, rattled woodwork and fine margins has seen the national team go nine games without a win at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. It hasn’t been for the want of trying, but the last time a victory was celebrated in south Belfast was a 1-0 friendly win over Luxembourg in September 2019. Magennis actually scored a late winner the last time Northern Ireland marked a competitive win at home - in a 2-1 victory over Belarus in a Euro 2020 qualifier 32 months ago. “It just hasn’t happened for us in recent times, but when Windsor is rocking at the end of a win there’s no better feeling,” said the Hull City striker. “If you actually look back at recent home games, the only one where there was a gulf was against Norway (1-5) when Erling Haaland, a top class player, made all the difference. “The expectation to win is there and it’s hard to take when you’re not winning, but we know the quality is there and in a lot of recent games the smallest of margins have gone against us. “It’s about getting ourselves on the right side of those small margins again and turning Windsor into a bit of a fortress again.” Magennis believes it’s a major “positive” that national manager Ian Baraclough will be at the helm for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024 campaigns. The Irish FA recently confirmed that the 50-year- old, who succeeded Michael O’Neill 17 months ago, has agreed to extend his contract beyond the World Cup campaign. “It’s good that the gaffer has agreed a new deal ,” he said. “Continuity is important because we know the way he wants to play and the path he wants to go down. JOSH MAGENNIS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

“The way he’s trying to play is exciting and he has also introduced a lot of new players and new faces to the squad. “When the likes of Chris Brunt , Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes and Oliver Norwood retired from international football , you maybe wondered who would come through. “But the boys who have come in during this campaign have stepped up and done unbelievably well . The squad is looking strong moving forward.” Millwall defender Daniel Ballard, Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann and Liverpool teenager Conor Bradley have all made their debuts on Baraclough’s watch. And Magennis has been impressed by how Bradley, who made his first start in last month’s 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria in Sofia, has acclimatised to international football in his five caps to date. “It’s always a big step up to play international football , but Conor has taken to it like a duck to water,” he said. “It doesn’t really surprise me because at Liverpool he is playing and training with a high quality of player and is used to being around a winning mentality every day. “Conor maybe hasn’t played a lot of games, but the work he’s doing at Liverpool holds him in really good stead. When he is with us he is really confident and assured.”

IRISHFA.COM

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