14/11/2012 International Match of the Day

Welcome to Windsor Park for a World Cup qualifier. It is Northern

Ireland against Azerbaijan. Good evening. It is the 7th game in

charge for Michael O'Neill and he is still without a victory. Three

debates and three draws but three points are essential tonight if he

is to keep Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying dream alive after an

eventful campaign so far. It could be a great ball. It is a 1-0.

obviously had the disappointment of Luxembourg where we were

unfortunate on the night. We lost a very poor goal early in the game.

The nature of the goal that we lost, the game should have been won. When

the gains came together -- when the players came together for Portugal

they were very positive and it was a great performance. They were very

positive in their approach and preparation for the game. We have

seen that again in the approach of this game. They are an unknown

quantity but they have had a difficult start to the group as

well. They have been in Moscow and Portugal like we were and they were

very unlucky to lose in Moscow 1-0. That tells you what kind of team

they will be, they will be well organised and make it difficult for

us. We will have to put on a performance like we did in Portugal,

the level of the performance and the discipline and the character

that we showed, albeit we expect to have a more attacking approach that

we would have had their. We have to be at our best to win the game.

win tonight would go a long way to keep Northern Ireland in contention

in Group F. Russia are in pole position but three points tonight

and Northern Ireland could finish this Kahlon the year just two

points behind second-placed Israel and Portugal. With me tonight is

the former Northern Ireland captain, can Michael O'Neill get the win he

is so desperately looking for? he can. It is a great night for

football and the pictures in great condition. It is nice and slick and

players will love playing on it. It is important that they start

quickly and there has to be intensity in their play. When they

create their chances that I know they will tonight they have to be

clinical in front of goal. They have to capitalise on the great

performance at Portugal and confidence will be sky high. There

is no reason why they will not be celebrating tonight. Azerbaijan are

not to be underestimated. They are managed by a manager that one Euro

96. They will be hard to beat. There is a great work ethic in the

team. They will be organised and disciplined and have quality in

their side. By no exaggeration of can we underestimate them. But they

are poor travellers and they have lost 20 out of 21 qualifying games.

He is not going to get a better evening to break that dark. Thank

you very much. Northern Ireland haven't won in the last 10 matches

but tonight could be the night to change that record, time to join

our match commentator Jackie Fullerton.

A Northern Ireland team first. Michael O'Neill has had to make

four changes from last month's heroic performance in Portugal.

Injury rules actually Evans and Ryan McGivern. In comes Gareth

McAuley after suspension. Daniel Lafferty is in for late withdrawal

McGivern. Shane Ferguson is back after injury on the left flank and

Dean Shiels comes in to partner Kyle Lafferty on the attacking

formation. Injuries and suspension have also disrupted Azerbaijan's

plans. A major blow is the suspension of their experienced

goalkeeper. Overall they have a fight changes to the starting 11

who were only beaten by a late penalty in Russia last month. They

have capable central defenders. I expect them to have five across the

midfield and I think Number 11 Aliyev will be the striker. Daniel

Lafferty from Burnley, 23-year-old and this is just his second cap and

this is his first competitive game in the World Cup. A big night for

that young man. Abbey denied for that man as well. Still looking for

his first win in the 7th game. He and the fans are hoping it will be

lucky number seven. The referee Victor Shvetsov of the Ukraine, a

professional referee, it is his 15th international game, set this

qualifier in Group F under way. Mike O'Neill said after defeat and

two draws it is time to put three two draws it is time to put three

points on the board. It's certainly is. No wins in their last 10 games.

It is a damp evening at Windsor Park. The picture is quite spongy

after their heavy rainfall. A splash there as the defender got it

is one of the bridge and men of the goalkeeper that Azerbaijan have had

to put in. Expect to see plenty of behind the ball as they are at the

goalkeeper was tested. Just dropping behind from the 21-year-

old. A lovely dummy from Lafferty there. He sprinted into the middle.

The cross ended up, it was just a poor one in the end. A beautiful

could have been and should have been 1-0. No. 10 a Kyle Lafferty

should have had his 10th international goal. Lovely wing

play. It was a Super bore but the finish was pretty poor. That is

encouraging for Northern Ireland, despite the finish by Lafferty. He

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

11, Aliyev. He is the striker by a finish! It is Aliyev. 26th cap

tonight and his 5th international goal and that is their first time

to score in Belfast. Delight for the travelling fans. Their first

time to score away from home in their third game. They lost 3-0 in

Portugal and 1-0 in Russia. How is that for a curling finish? Roy

Carroll had no chance. Fat is a knife through the heart of Northern

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

Ireland. He hit it well, straight bare from Michael. But I think the

team have up to their game at the goalkeeping. But that was a chance,

and we had Lafferty down on the goal a month for -- we have

Lafferty down in the goalmouth. The goalkeeper stands over them. He

seems to be holding his left knee. It was a good touch, it was not a

great touch. He let it go away from him a little bit. Davis, 10 out of

10 for the ball but two out of 10 for the touch. The keeper was so

brave. If that had been a good touch we would have been one each

but it was not to be. He is holding the back of his knee. Is it a calf

problem? Concern from Michael the pitch. He is on the right and

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

from behind. Free kick for Northern Cathcart must have thought he had

got his first international goal and he should have. A great ball.

Dean Shiels did so well. A clear header but he could not find the

target. That is disappointing, not only for him, Craig Cathcart, but

for Northern Ireland. There is the was. Well, there he is, he took his

chance. It almost paid off, a big deflection year. And it looked up,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

second time. That looked like a foul to me. A shake of the head

there, let's C. It looked as if he was being held. He made it look a

bit dramatic, maybe that is what put the referee against him, but a

again, it should have been a goal. It was Daniel Lafferty all the way

up from left-back. What a great ball in from Ferguson, and that is

a poor finish, you have to save. That could have been Northern

Ireland's third goal, a trio of chances from headers, and he is the

latest one not to take it. of a to-do there. I think the

goalscorer thought that Roy Carroll was trying to hit him with the ball,

but he wasn't. So there we are, that is the man, Aliyev, five

minutes, he got a cracking goal to silence Windsor Park. Northern

Ireland, meanwhile, they have had their chances, three headed chances,

Lafferty, Cathcart and just a couple of minutes ago it was Daniel

Lafferty. Michael O'Neill will have plenty to say during the half-time

cup of tea! At half-time in this World Cup qualifier in Group F,

half-time, I would have thought, Berti Vogts. Well won by Aaron

feet five inches tall of him, but he was not going to beat the 6 ft 2

inches tall Roy Carroll from there. A little bit of holding there,

would be just what the doctor ordered. Bolt, it is another chance,

it is Cathcart again, this time with his right foot, a golden

opportunity, and Northern Ireland really cannot keep doing this.

Wonderfully well won in the air by McAuley, the volley from Cathcart,

oh, dear! Good chest, awful finish, great disappointment for the man

because they know that Northern Ireland should be in front and out

of sight, really, but they feel it Chris Baird will not get his first

international goal with that finish. But it has the crowd are on their

feet here, good run from Lafferty, defender into giving away the

Dean Shiels did not have a chance as Ferguson, who need support and

Kyle Lafferty, that is a booking. He will miss the game against

Russia here in March. That is tragic news. Now, let's see what

happened here. He went to ground himself. Maybe he felt he was being

held initially. Yes, just there, but that is not enough to get a

penalty. And he should have known that, and then the dramatic fall,

to repay the boss is to score a couple of goals to win the game. --

so all. It was Ozkara who got three, all the way through, but the big

man from an ANPR cars in Greece these days was there. -- and in the

the Faroe Islands, both at this end, out of luck that time. -- the man

who got. But at least he has given us a glimmer, lovely skill, finds

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

Lafferty, and he hears again. -- dear, dear! Chris Baird, the

manager cannot believe it, I cannot believe it, he cannot believe it!

How many chances are Northern Ireland going to miss?! This is

unbelievable! I have been doing this job for many years, and I have

not seen a night like this. Just begging to be put in, and it wasn't.

his 40th cap. And it is Niall Brom, and yet he has never reached

those same heights in a green shirt. Maybe tonight, when it is needed,

will be denied. -- will be the But he is creating problems! And

that is why he was brought into the fray. He just drifts away from

players, and that was drifting high and very wide, sadly, for Northern

again, the chance goes begging. I make that seven. Chris Baird, his

second of the night, he cannot believe it, Michael O'Neill, well,

he is stunned on the bench, the manager. What a great chance! This

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 63 seconds

but it is not a way yet. It is like disappointingly, but there, just in

that split second, great skill from Pat McCourt. This is what he is

capable of, past the defender, then that one, look at those quick feet.

To be fair, Azerbaijan were there Chris Baird is also out of the game

David Healy. Craig Cathcart is the man coming off. So it is a defender,

off, a striker coming on, and just listen to the cheer for David Healy,

35 international goals, by a long did not give enough. That about

sums up how things have gone for Northern Ireland this evening. The

won wit, hit at first time. The idea was right, the finish just

a wee bit too much. But then, when you're not used to winning away

games, you can understand they would be slightly delirious at this

point. They will know, or Berti Vogts will know, they could have

been beaten out of sight tonight and they should have been. But that

is football, isn't it? The heroics of Portugal of last month, that

will be forgotten in the midst of all of this tonight. Immense

disappointment. A free kick at a very dangerous position for

Northern Ireland. We are almost five minutes into the six minutes

added. I think there will be some has been salvaged by the main man.

After four years and one month, David Healy has ended his drought.

San Marino way back in October to an -- San Marino way back in 2008

was his last goal at how with that for a finish? He has not finished

yet! His 94th appearance. He has not been on long but he has made

his presence felt right at that moment. 1-1. Delight, but overall

the delight will be tempered with the result, perhaps. And that is it.

That will be a night to remember for all the wrong reasons for my

colonial and Northern Ireland. Berti Vogts, I think he will know,

as the football man he is, that that could have been a real

hammering for his side. But we will all remember something like eight

golden chances were spurned. It could have been 8-1 here tonight,

9-1. It has finished, sadly, disappointingly for Northern

Ireland, they draw in this group. Three points from 12 is a meagre

return. It has finished 1-1. return. It has finished 1-1.

It was a very frustrating night, a frustrating night for the players.

We knew if we got balls and the box we would cause them problems and we

did that all night. We have people on the end of the more numerous

occasions but it was one of those nights where did not seem to go for

us. But to be fair to the character of the players they went right to

the 96th minute and we popped up with a in equaliser right at the

end. We just ran out of time at the end up because from the moment that

they scored be dominated the game and we should have won it. Do you

think there will be more pressure on you now? You must now be looking

to the next campaign. At the end of the day it depends what you feel as

pressure. The most pressure comes from myself because I want to do

well here as a manager and I want the players to do well. Other

people's opinions is other people's opinions. We have a number of

younger players that may need this campaign to find their feet at this

level. One of those nights. We had a lot of chances. I think the

keeper did not have many saves to make but we missed the target a lot.

We tried hard after letting the goal in early on. If you cannot

finish then you cannot win these games. That is all it is. You can't

learn any more. If you can't score goals you can't win games. I have

played a lot of games and seen a lot of highs and lows but this was

a game where you cannot fault the effort from any of the players. It

was a disappointing night but we knew it would be hard game and

Michael put that to us as soon as we arrived on Sunday. They fancied

their chances here and when you go 1-0 down to a quality striker like

we did we were always chasing their tails. We did have our chances and

credit to the lads who got in those positions but we will all go home

frustrated because we did have enough chances but I think you

cannot fault the effort of the players. After the performance last

month where we defended really well we played good football tonight but

it never went into the back of the net for us. Berti Vogts said he had

some sort of exchange of words, what do you say? He apologised for

the behaviour of his players. you mean time-wasting? In general,

the number of times they were on the field and everything that went

along with it. The referee should have handled it much better but at

least he had the decency to apologise for that. There is how

the group table looks. Northern Ireland are nine points behind the

leaders, Russia. They face an upward struggle to try and qualify

with big games against Russia, Israel and Portugal still to come.

Jim, is that a night that Northern Ireland will feel relieved to get a

draw disappointed they did not get a win? Really disappointed. It was

a night of real frustration. I have never been in a game where a team

created so many chances. They will feel aggrieved. A point was the

very least they deserved. Have they been clinical in front of the goal

they would have won it five or six. Let us talk about the Azerbaijan

goal first. It was a brilliant strike. It was. It came early doors

as well. We knew that they had players of that quality soap

Northern Ireland responded very quickly, very well and created a

succession of chances in the first half. How did all the Ilan not put

the ball in the back of the net in the first half? Kyle Lafferty at

some golden opportunities. Yes, the best chance came when Steven Davis

gave him a fabulous ball. There were so many chances. Craig

Cathcart had a great chance with a header. If one goes in it follows

four or five, it was just that night. You could sense it was going

to take something different for Michael making a very good

substitution in our friend David Healy. It was just tonight where

had they scored one, you felt the floodgates would have opened.

just felt that it was not going to be Northern Ireland's night

especially as the second half continued and created chance after

chance. The substitutions were positive. Paddy came on and created

a real difference, gave you something different. He was unlucky

with his little opportunity, when he hits one from the edge of the

box. I just felt, watching the game, I always felt they were going to

score a goal, I always had that feeling that obviously it saddens

us all that they did not get three points. I have to say they played

you that you called it at half-time. You said it could be a night for

David Healy and it was. Yes, it was just that he is the one person in

the team where if a chance falls to anyone in the box, he is the one

that you feel it is going to land it. He feared he have the quality

to convert. OK, it was a free kick but as soon as the free kick was

awarded, he runs and get the ball because he fancies it and I fancied

him. Yellow cards tonight, Chris Baird, Kyle Lafferty will miss the

next game, that is a big disappointment. Yes, those are two

of the best players. Chris Baird was excellent tonight. They will

both be missed. It is a big game. Obviously it will be crucial that

they get as many of their top players back in the side.

campaign of role now, is surely feels like qualification is not

going to happen and Northern Ireland are now playing for pride,

is that how you see it? Yes, I do. When the group was announced it was

obviously going to be a really tough ask. I think he has been

unlucky, tonight especially and Luxembourg are points that they

should not have dropped. You look at tonight's game and overall it

was a really good performance but they did not convert the chances.

We talked about the clinical in front of the goal but sometimes

when you are in a reply that it just does not happen to you.

disappointing night for Northern Ireland. Michael O'Neill still