MX23RW : Monday, February 1 17:23:06| >> :600:440504:440504:
Mar 24, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at Windsor Park
Attendance: 18,188
Northern Ireland
2-1
Belarus
Evans (30'), Magennis (87')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Stasevich (33')

Michael O'Neill eyes away success after back-to-back home wins

O'Neill eyes away success after back-to-back home wins
© Reuters
Northern Ireland have six points from six

Michael O'Neill will challenge his Northern Ireland players to replicate their Euro 2020 qualifying victories over Estonia and Belarus when they travel to face them away from home in June.

Sunday's 2-1 win over Belarus – secured with Josh Magennis' late goal at Windsor Park – sent Northern Ireland top of Group C by three points.

Taking six points from their opening two games at Windsor Park was always a minimum requirement if they are to keep alive hopes of beating either Holland or Germany to one of the two automatic qualification places from the group.

And O'Neill also knows they will need points on the road when Northern Ireland head to Tallinn and Borisov in the second week of June.

O'Neill has changed Northern Ireland's approach in recent months, looking to dominate possession and build pressure rather than relying on set-pieces and counter-attacks.

It led to frustration in last year's Nations League, when several good performances went unrewarded, but has borne fruit in the opening qualifiers.

"Maybe we won't play identically in terms of personnel, but it will be pretty similar in terms of the shape," O'Neill said of June's fixtures.

"You learn about your team all the time. It's very difficult to have that level of possession away from home, but what we have got good at away from home is finding a way to win.

"We proved that in Azerbaijan (in 2017) and other places in recent years and we've got to do that in June."

Northern Ireland certainly piled on the pressure against Belarus, but for much of the second half it appeared it would go unrewarded.

Jonny Evans' first international goal since September 2017 put them in front after 29 minutes, only for a deflected shot from Igor Stasevich to level it for Belarus three minutes later – a rare foray forward from the visitors.

Northern Ireland then spurned several chances before substitute Magennis struck with three minutes to go.

O'Neill admitted that the players available to him dictate Northern Ireland are forced to play a similar shape home and away, looking to their wingers to create chances.

Central midfielder Ollie Norwood missed this week's games for personal reasons and O'Neill indicated he would be absent again in June, further restricting his options.

"We're not going to score through the middle of teams," he said. "We don't have a number 10 in our squad."

But the manager has been delighted with the way the players have taken to the change of approach, and is confident it gives them their best chance of advancing.

"There's been a massive buy-in from the players and we've got to go out there and replicate the results," he said.

"It's a huge ask but we're capable."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ian Parker, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '30290952-f82f-4861-9422-4df4eb81f0bd');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'O\u2019Neill eager to win on the road after solid start at home'});

ID:354362:cQx

Click here for more stories about Michael O'Neill

Click here for more stories about Northern Ireland

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Reiss Nelson in action for Arsenal in pre-season on July 26, 2018
Read Next:
Nelson: 'Hoffenheim loan has been learning curve'
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Michael O'Neill Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City20135237132444
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd21125437271041
3Liverpool21117343241940
4Leicester CityLeicester21123637251239
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2110563127435
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs2096534211333
7Chelsea2196635231233
8Everton1910362924533
9Aston Villa19102734211332
10Arsenal219482620631
11Southampton208572725229
12Leeds UnitedLeeds209293536-129
13Crystal Palace217592536-1126
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2165102130-923
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2164112134-1322
16Burnley2064101326-1322
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton214982329-621
18Fulham2028101729-1214
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2126131750-3312
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2122171234-228

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!