'Flow kind of state' Bailey Peacock-Farrell psychological sweet spot for Northern Ireland goalkeeper after injuries and criticism

Standing with a full stand of supporters so close behind and every other player on the pitch in front, Peacock-Farrell feels a position between the posts brings specific mental tests.

Coming into the closing Northern Ireland camp of the World Cup qualifying group stages with increased confidence levels thanks to sparkling club form at Blackpool, the 29-year-old offered a fascinating insight into life juggling the responsibilities of such a high-risk position.

"It's probably one of the most important positions on the pitch in terms of that mental aspect,” said the Peacock-Farrell, on loan at the League One club from Birmingham City. “Everyone can, to a certain extent, catch a ball and kick a ball.

"Where you see goalkeepers dip in form, their ability hasn't changed but there's just something else that's obviously affecting it.

“When you've gone through that and then you're back out the other side of things, it's a real nice feeling.

"I really think goalkeeping is a rhythm position, a flow kind of state where if you're thinking it's too much time and, ultimately, things go wrong.

"You need to be just doing it because you live on such an edge of operating in that fine window.

“It has to be almost instinct, if you start analysing too much you can make a bad decision.

"It really is a case of just trying to do the best you can rather than think too much."

Peacock-Farrell is searching for continued gains with club and country, following encouraging steps forward following past injury frustration and form criticism.

“Every single game for me seems to be getting better and better so I couldn't ask for any more really...I want another 32 more games like that and then we'll call it a good season,” said Peacock-Farrell, now with over 50 caps for Northern Ireland since his 2018 senior international debut. “I'm just happy to be back having that number one shirt and, ultimately, it's mine to keep at this moment in time.

“Being injured is really frustrating where you feel like you can't operate at your capabilities.

“I genuinely believed it (previous criticism) was wrong, I thought it was quite harsh to a certain extent.

“There wasn't necessarily an alternative answer that would have stopped a goal or would have done this or would have done that better.

“It was just one of those fluky things, a bit of bad luck and just getting back into a rhythm of playing, you just get going and before you know it, you're not even thinking about anything and you're just playing.

“I didn't have a pre-season...I had two weeks of being on the grass and being with the club and training and then straight into a season. “So it was probably just being unlucky and being a bit undercooked. “I knew that would shift because I know I'm a good player.

"So it was just about riding out that little storm.

“I feel like the last six, seven games have just been building and building and finding that real nice flow and that kind of rhythm state that goalkeeping's all about.

“I feel I’m in a really good position at the moment.”