Jamie Donley keeps his cool from 12 yards as Northern Ireland edge out Luxembourg at Windsor Park

Michael O’Neill made six changes to his starting line-up from the loss in Slovakia as injury ruled out goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and striker Jamie Reid, whilst Daniel Ballard and George Saville were suspended after being sent-off and booked in Kosice respectively.

Trai Hume and Justin Devenny were all one yellow card away from a suspension and O’Neill elected to be careful, with Hume not involved at all and Devenny named as a sub.

Despite the agony of a last-gasp defeat to the Slovaks which ended their automatic qualification hopes, the hosts started brightly and went on the front foot as Liverpool star Conor Bradley blazed over from just inside the box after Luxembourg failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Soon after, quick-thinking yielded Northern Ireland’s next chance as a throw-in was hastily fired into Isaac Price’s direction and his low effort forced Anthony Moris into action.

A minute later, O’Neill’s men threatened via a blistering counter-attack as Jamie Donley and Ethan Galbraith linked-up to find Price inside the box. The midfielder had the vision to pick out the run of Jamal Lewis with a clever flick but the full-back fired a shot from an acute angle over the bar.

Northern Ireland then thought they had made the breakthrough on 17 minutes as Galbraith was heavily involved. The midfielder – who missed the loss in Slovakia due to suspension – was adjudged to have been in an offside position before crossing for Donley who swept a low drive into the back of the net.

Luxembourg travelled to Windsor Park without a point to show for their efforts in the group but they certainly showed their attacking intent as they created numerous chances to forge ahead.

The first arrived on 21 minutes when Aiman Dardari forced a save from the returning Conor Hazard, before the Plymouth Argyle stopper rushed off his line to thwart Christopher Martins after he got behind the Northern Ireland defence.

Minutes later, Luxembourg threatened again as a breakaway on the right-hand side saw the ball being recycled to Mathias Olesen at the edge of the area but his curling effort went inches beyond the far post.

Just after the half hour mark, Luxembourg would have been forgiven for wondering how they didn’t take the lead as Dardari – who netted between the two sides back in September – crossed the ball for Olivier Thill but he failed to compose himself as his shot went into the Kop stand.

But Northern Ireland did manage to break the deadlock as Estonian referee Kristo Tohver was asked to check his VAR monitor following a collision between Ciaron Brown and Christopher Martins inside the area. He decided that Brown was fouled and pointed to the spot, allowing Donley to net his first international goal from the spot.

O’Neill utilised his bench at the half-time whistle as Bradley made way for Terry Devlin, with Brad Lyons then being forced off at the start of the second-half with a knock as Paul Smyth entered the pitch.

Luxembourg were continuing to test the Northern Ireland rearguard as Dirk Carlson headed over from a corner-kick, with Ruairi McConville also having the same fate at the other end from a set-piece.

The game then entered a lull as the changes appeared to halt the rhythm of play but Hazard had to be alert just after the hour mark when Laurent Jans picked out Thill at the back post but his dangerous cross was grabbed by the stopper.

With less than ten minutes remaining, O’Neill handed a senior debut to ex-Coleraine star Patrick Kelly as Sinani’s free-kick from 30 yards failed to trouble Hazard.

Kelly then almost had a debut to remember as the Barnsley man showed neat foot work inside the area to find Price but he arrowed over the bar in stoppage time.

O’Neill’s men held firm for a clean sheet and a win as attention now turns to the World Cup play-off in March, with their opponents set to be announced on Thursday.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Hazard, Bradley (Devlin ‘46 mins), Lewis (Kelly ‘82 mins), Galbraith, Donley (Marshall ‘67 mins), McConville, Price, Lyons (Smyth ‘52 mins), McNair, McDonnell (Magennis ‘67 mins), Brown.

Subs Not Used: Clarke (GK), Southwood (GK), Toal, Johnson, Charles, Devenny, McCausland.

LUXEMBOURG: Moris, Korac, Dardari (Avdusinovic ‘67 mins), C. Martins, Sinani, Carlson, O. Thill (Muratovic ‘80 mins), Barreiro, Jans, Oleson (Moreira ‘67 mins), M. Martins (Dzogovic ‘87 mins).

Subs Not Used: Pereira (GK), Fox (GK), Djabi Embalo, Mustafic, Curci, Moreira, Veiga, Selimovic, S. Thill.

Referee: Kristo Tohver (Estonia)