Poland 1 Northern Ireland 0

Northern Ireland travelled to Poland for their second away match in 5 days fearing the worst, since the Poles were just fresh from sticking 8 past the Azers without reply. The return of James Quinn from suspension meant that we moved to 3-5-2 with the Sheffield Wednesday striker partnering The Next Best Thing up front. After his substitute appearance at OT, young Steve Davis had to start and he duly did. DJ was suspended and Tommy Doc was on the bench. Williams came in at the back.
Poland came forward early on but there were plenty of encouraging signs for Northern Ireland too. Healy was bundled over in the box, and then straight after the ball was played back in to Quinn who volleyed at goal, forcing a great save from Dudek, our best chance of the match. Gillespie was getting on well on the right, going by people although his final ball wasn’t always great. Quinn was putting himself about and displeasing the referee, but he only lasted about half the first 45 as he was stretchered off due to ‘back spasms’ – he was clearly bitterly disappointed. Warren Feeney came on to win his 4th cap. This meant there was now once again no target man but Healy did brilliantly, holding the ball up and winning free kicks. At the other end, Maik Taylor continued his excellent form from Saturday – pulling off a wonder save to deny a header from 6 yards soon after Dudek’s save from Quinn at the other end. The big defence were doing well. Capaldi wasn’t on fire going forward or defending though, and put in a series of poor corners. Whitley was also disappointing, considering how good he was on Saturday. We had about 5 players booked during the match, however none of the players booked will be suspended. Murdock picked up a yellow card for a comical foul on Dudek – the Poland keeper had comfortably claimed the ball but Murdock continued his run and just bashed him in the air. He must have thought he’d try and get away with it since he did against Austria.
Poland had by far the most of the attacking play as expected, but their shots that didn’t sail high or wide were either saved by Taylor or blocked by the defence. At half time it was 0-0, just like in England however I’m sure the players had been threatened with a fate worse than death if they conceeded soon after half time! Happily it remained goalless, and the time kept ticking by. Soon, we were within touching distance of a superb away point against a team whose ambition is to win the group. Then, with about 75 minutes played the camera moved to the bench and we saw blond haired superstar ‘Andrew’ Smith. Collective groans ensued from everyone in the room. However maybe Lawrie thought it through because Healy remained on the pitch for a while, winning free kicks in dangerous positions. With 10 minutes left however the headless chicken came on for our leading goalscorer.
We were now playing stupid take-the-ball-in-the-corner-and-try-and-stand-there stuff, which I was complaining vigourously about. Then, with 5 minutes left, we got a corner. Defenders piled forward but it was taken short as we tried to be fancy and waste a few extra seconds. The ball was given away and the Poles raced down the pitch and won a corner. They took their corner short, but got it into the box and scored. Heartbreaking. Well, near enough.
‘Willo’ made way for Elliott but that was basically that. The referee didn’t even add on one of the three minutes injury time we were meant to have, but it wasn’t going to make a difference. Foiled again!
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor 9, Barid 7, Murdock 7, Williams 7 (Elliott 87), Hughes 7, Capaldi 6, Gillespie 7, Whitley 6, Davis 7, Quinn 7 (Feeney 30 7), Healy 8 (Smith 80)
Not used: Carroll, Craigan, Doherty, Mulryne

It’s been a long time…
Sanchez:
“We have shot ourselves in the foot again. We were naive.
“We had them bang to rights 0-0 after giving a solid performance. Then we give away a goal like that with minutes to go.
“I feel for the players. They worked their socks off.
“It was even Steven in the first half and we put a little bit of pressure on them.
“And when our defence was breached, Maik was there to do what he does well and that is making the saves.
“We’ve given the fans what they wanted which was a solid performance but unfortunately we could not get the result.”
“Losing Quinny was a blow as he used his body well and made it difficult for Poland.”

Quinn benefits from Holland years

Talking to Sporting Life, Northern Ireland and Sheffield Wednesday striker James Quinn, who deserved to be playing on Saturday, spoke of how his time in the Dutch First Division with Willem II has improved his game:
“I have become a better player technically,” said Quinn. “I have also become braver. Contrary to what people think, it is physical in Holland and fast. I got kicked all over the park.
“I am not sure what Lawrie Sanchez will do against Poland as I have not spoken to him about it. Stuart Elliott and David Healy did well considering who they were up against.
“It is difficult to assess what will happen against Poland after their big win. They will either be over-confident or brimming perfectly with confidence.”
Quinn made the decision to return home after the intensity of the 3-3 draw against Austria at Windsor Park in a qualifier back in October.
“It made me think, ‘I have got to get back to this’,” he said.
“There was a tremendous buzz around the place, a great spirit between the lads and the fans were marvellous.
“The thing that disappointed me in Holland was the atmosphere at games. People just sat there as if they were in their lounge at home.”
Sounds just like the North Stand during home NI maches then!

Baird fit

Some good news – Chris Baird has recovered from a stomach virus and looks set to keep his place in the Northern Ireland team for the match against Poland tomorrow night.

Hughes hits out at ’snub’ reports

Michael Hughes has spoken out to clarify reports yesterday that he had snubbed a call up to the NI squad for Wednesday’s match against Poland. Hughes said:
“It is not a snub. What I won’t stand for are the lies and half-truths that are being told about my current situation. The facts are I spoke to Lawrie after our 2-2 draw in Wales last September and he said I wouldn’t be part of the starting XI in the future.
“He also insinuated I was getting old. I told him I wouldn’t play for the country again this season as I wanted to concentrate on keeping Palace in the Premiership.”
Hughes, who has earned 71 caps since making his debut 14 years ago, added: “Let’s be honest, there’s little chance of Northern Ireland qualifying. Was it really worth me going on a long trip when I have already been told I am no longer part of first-team plans?”

Sanchez’ signs new contract / Maik rallies troops

You may have missed it with being in Eng-er-land and all that, but on Friday Lawrie Sanchez signed a two year contract extension.

Jim Boyce:
“The IFA is fortunate to have secured Lawrie’s services for a longer period. He has done well with the team, seeing us move 13 places up in the Fifa world rankings. He has got us scoring goals and winning games. The supporters love him and the team want to play for him.”
Sanchez:
“This gives me a chance to carry on the good work my staff and I have started and to cement the natural cycle of international management by following the World Cup qualifiers with the European qualifiers.”
Meanwhile Maik Taylor has cheered up somewhat after Saturday and has spoken about Wednesday’s game in Poland:
“If we hope to do something in the group, we need to win this game.
“It is a huge match for us. Poland are going to be up for it – and we have to stand up to that.
“They will be brimming with confidence after that win at the weekend. It is going to be another tough game – Poland have exceptional pace throughout the side.”
He then added a few words about Saturday’s defeat:
“Everything was going to plan. We set our stall out and had a reasonable shape.
“We restricted them, although one effort came back off the post, and generally it was long-range stuff. The first goal was a blow but we were still very much in the game. We need to learn that even if you go a goal down the match is not over.
“This is a very young squad and relatively inexperienced. They are learning all the time.
“We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it and look forward to facing Poland.”
Meanwhile Michael Hughes’ NI career may well be over. The Crystal Palace midfielder has now served his 3 game ban for ‘dealing with’ Robbie Savage but opted not to join up with the squad for the Poland match in case he got injured for Palace’s relegation struggle.

England 4 Northern Ireland 0

I’m totally wrecked but I thought I’d throw together a match report while events are still fresh in my memory.
A superb battling performance from Northern Ireland, every man a hero. We played some lovely football, survived some scares (Rooney hit the post) and Maik Taylor pulled off some amazing saves (the best from a Beckham free kick) but we kept it goalless.
However, that’s only the story of the first half. As soon as the second half started we capitulated, and all our hard work was undone in a matter of minutes.
Let’s reflect on the first half first though. 4-5-1 as expected. The reports were true that Doherty was in instead of Davis. Thankfully Andrew Smith wasn’t on the bench. The game kicked off and England just flew at us. The back 4 were superb. Howlin’ Mad Murdock – what a hero! Stopping everything. Baird looked far, far sharper than a season of reserve team football would suggest. Hughes and Capaldi, doing well. Owen had a one on one with Maik early on, but our number 1 effortlessly, almost scoffingly, saved the day. Rooney headed onto the post – and from behind the net there was a delay as we wondered whether the ball would bounce in or out – and then it looked like Baird was about to smash it into his own net, but he cleared it for a corner.
Going forward, well, not a lot happening and we didn’t have a shot on target in the half. However we were playing well and played some great passing, possession football. Whitley was brilliant. Gillespie was TRYING, and winning header after header against Ashley Cole from Maik’s goal kicks. Healy did well as the lone striker and Elliott bombed up as often as he could and worked hard. It was all going so well. “It’s just like watching Brazil” all six and a half thousand of us sung during a particularly good period just before half time, and it was.
When the first 45 were up the big scoreboards read ‘England 0 Northern Ireland 0′ and we had visions of it staying like that for the whole match, maybe us even nicking a winner. Lawrie had obviously told his players before the game that they would come at us like nothing normal in the first 20 minutes or so, and we had responded excellently. However, either he didn’t tell them this again at half time, or they promptly forgot. Just minutes into the half, we had just got away with some suicidal defending before Tony Capaldi passed the ball to Joe Cole on the edge of the box. Bang. 1-0. Just like that. “Went down” doesn’t even begin to describe what happened to our players’ heads. Owen scored straight after, and then toured inside our byline (think it was him anyway) and the ball was in the net again. Text messages revealed that Chris Baird got in on the act somewhere along the way. Then, just as we were maybe starting to think the storm had passed, Frank Lampard hit a shot that was heading straight for the hands of the diving Maik Taylor, when Mad Murdock stooped to head the ball clear, completely changing its pathway and directing it past a helpless Taylor, who didn’t deserve to concede one today, never mind four.
And that was that. It could have been more. Owen (?) missed an empty net. We managed a shot on target, just. After the fourth, Davis came on and looked simply brilliant. So he’s starting in Poland then?! Damo kicked the ball away in frustration to pick up the only booking of the afternoon, and rumour has it he’s now suspended for Poland.
However, we completely trounced them where it really mattered. The singing. They were awful. Time and time again they were invited to sing but couldn’t. In the end, we even produced a session of “Eng-uh-lind” for them out of sympathy. One of my greatest regrets in Wales was that the general populace of Norn Iron fans didn’t have the wit to sing “You’re supposed to be at home” when it was clearly so relevant. However we managed to get it lit up plenty of times today. It was great throughout but even more so in the first half, when it was true in a footballing sense as well as in the war of the supporters.
Some classics today (some of which I’ve probably forgot), apart from the almost constant “Shall we sing a song for you?” and our usual favourites:
“66, you’re having a laugh”
“You’ve got the worst songs in the world”
“4-0, and you still won’t sing!”
“The Flower of Scotland” – along with some boy with bagpipes! Must learn the words for future reference.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, Baird, Hughes, Murdock, Capaldi, Gillespie, Johnson, Doherty (Davis 59), Whitley (Jones 88), Elliott, Healy (Kirk 88)
Not Used: Carroll, Williams, Craigan, Feeney
Pictures of the game, the trip, and famous people to follow on Monday

England 4 Northern Ireland 0

I’m totally wrecked but I thought I’d throw together a match report while events are still fresh in my memory.
A superb battling performance from Northern Ireland, every man a hero. We played some lovely football, survived some scares (Rooney hit the post) and Maik Taylor pulled off some amazing saves (the best from a Beckham free kick) but we kept it goalless.
However, that’s only the story of the first half. As soon as the second half started we capitulated, and all our hard work was undone in a matter of minutes.
Let’s reflect on the first half first though. 4-5-1 as expected. The reports were true that Doherty was in instead of Davis. Thankfully Andrew Smith wasn’t on the bench. The game kicked off and England just flew at us. The back 4 were superb. Howlin’ Mad Murdock – what a hero! Stopping everything. Baird looked far, far sharper than a season of reserve team football would suggest. Hughes and Capaldi, doing well. Owen had a one on one with Maik early on, but our number 1 effortlessly, almost scoffingly, saved the day. Rooney headed onto the post – and from behind the net there was a delay as we wondered whether the ball would bounce in or out – and then it looked like Baird was about to smash it into his own net, but he cleared it for a corner.
Going forward, well, not a lot happening and we didn’t have a shot on target in the half. However we were playing well and played some great passing, possession football. Whitley was brilliant. Gillespie was TRYING, and winning header after header against Ashley Cole from Maik’s goal kicks. Healy did well as the lone striker and Elliott bombed up as often as he could and worked hard. It was all going so well. “It’s just like watching Brazil” all six and a half thousand of us sung during a particularly good period just before half time, and it was.
When the first 45 were up the big scoreboards read ‘England 0 Northern Ireland 0′ and we had visions of it staying like that for the whole match, maybe us even nicking a winner. Lawrie had obviously told his players before the game that they would come at us like nothing normal in the first 20 minutes or so, and we had responded excellently. However, either he didn’t tell them this again at half time, or they promptly forgot. Just minutes into the half, we had just got away with some suicidal defending before Tony Capaldi passed the ball to Joe Cole on the edge of the box. Bang. 1-0. Just like that. “Went down” doesn’t even begin to describe what happened to our players’ heads. Owen scored straight after, and then toured inside our byline (think it was him anyway) and the ball was in the net again. Text messages revealed that Chris Baird got in on the act somewhere along the way. Then, just as we were maybe starting to think the storm had passed, Frank Lampard hit a shot that was heading straight for the hands of the diving Maik Taylor, when Mad Murdock stooped to head the ball clear, completely changing its pathway and directing it past a helpless Taylor, who didn’t deserve to concede one today, never mind four.
And that was that. It could have been more. Owen (?) missed an empty net. We managed a shot on target, just. After the fourth, Davis came on and looked simply brilliant. So he’s starting in Poland then?! Damo kicked the ball away in frustration to pick up the only booking of the afternoon, and rumour has it he’s now suspended for Poland.
However, we completely trounced them where it really mattered. The singing. They were awful. Time and time again they were invited to sing but couldn’t. In the end, we even produced a session of “Eng-uh-lind” for them out of sympathy. One of my greatest regrets in Wales was that the general populace of Norn Iron fans didn’t have the wit to sing “You’re supposed to be at home” when it was clearly so relevant. However we managed to get it lit up plenty of times today. It was great throughout but even more so in the first half, when it was true in a footballing sense as well as in the war of the supporters.
Some classics today (some of which I’ve probably forgot), apart from the almost constant “Shall we sing a song for you?” and our usual favourites:
“66, you’re having a laugh”
“You’ve got the worst songs in the world”
“4-0, and you still won’t sing!”
“The Flower of Scotland” – along with some boy with bagpipes! Must learn the words for future reference.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor, Baird, Hughes, Murdock, Capaldi, Gillespie, Johnson, Doherty (Davis 59), Whitley (Jones 88), Elliott, Healy (Kirk 88)
Not Used: Carroll, Williams, Craigan, Feeney
Pictures of the game, the trip, and famous people to follow on Monday

Luton get Feeney as window shuts

Warren Feeney has completely a deadline day move from Stockport County to League One leaders Luton Town for £150,000. Doncaster Rovers had been told yesterday than 150,000 notes wasn’t enough so this morning they pulled out all the stops and upped their bid to £175,000 which was accepted, but they couldn’t agree personal terms with the player. In the words of Rovers boss Dave Penney “I was not prepared to put this club into financial problems by trying to match the players agent’s demands.”
However, Stockport accepted Luton’s £150,000 bid and Feeney will be playing Championship football next season. Stockport fanzine HattersMatters:
“Warren scored a hat-trick in that match which took his tally for the season to 17 goals in 33 appearances – an excellent record considering the team that he is playing in and our current League position. No County fan will begrudge Warren’s switch to Luton Town as he has always given 100% for the club during his brief time here.
It’s a shame that he has completed his move ahead of this weekend’s international match, as it would have been nice to have had Stockport’s Warren Feeney playing for Northern Ireland against England.
We wish Warren well at his new club and hope that he enjoys a bit of success in the Championship next season.”
Feeney joined Stockport from Bournemouth in the summer for £45,000 – Bournemouth will now received around £20,000 due to a sell-on clause.

McCartney pulls out

Awful stuff. Two of our best defenders now won’t play any part in the England or Poland matches.
“I am bitterly disappointed to be missing the game but the injury is not getting any better. Only rest can help.”

Sanchez l wants to maintain unbeaten away record

With a double header of World Cup Qualifiers away from Windsor Park coming up, Lawrie Sanchez wants to maintain his record of never having lost in 7 away trips as manager of Northern Ireland.
“It is a strange statistic that since I have been in charge we have not won at home but have not lost away.
“I don’t quite know how that has happened. Perhaps there is less pressure on the players outside Northern Ireland.
“If we can come out of this weekend and the match against Poland with that statistic intact I will be more than happy.”