Once Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill had shaken off the bitter feeling of defeat he was able to take plenty of encouragement from Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Bosnia & Herzegovina. Northern Ireland were undone by two sloppy goals which both came against the run of play at Windsor Park – the second a horrible mix-up between Craig Cathcart and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Cathcart called it one of the most complete performances of his 37-cap Northern Ireland career, and O’Neill agreed there was plenty to be positive about ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Israel. “To play with that intensity and dominance, with close to 70 per cent possession in the game, 25 attempts on goal, 18 corners – it tells the story of the game,” O’Neill said. “But we’re more than capable of holding our own at this level and I think we are doing that.

Source: Irish Examiner September 09, 2018 11:15 UTC