'This is a very, very competitive group' - Northern Ireland’s early progress pleases boss Michael O’Neill
Michael O’Neill was left disappointed his Northern Ireland side could not find a goal in Monday’s 0-0 draw at home to Hungary but is clear they are off to a “great start” in their Nations League campaign.
Northern Ireland looked the more dangerous side for long stretches of the night at Windsor Park, but were unable to capitalise as their best chances fell to Patrick Kelly in the first half before Isaac Price went close late on.
But after Ruairi McConville made a key block to deny Willi Orban and Pierce Charles saved from Andras Schafer late on, Northern Ireland stayed unbeaten and, with four points from their opening two games, joint top of the group alongside Ukraine who they face in Slovakia on Friday.
Asked if this was a point gained or two dropped, O’Neill said: “I look at it as just another point. I don’t look on it either way like that to be honest. There’s a lot for us to be positive about. It’s two clean sheets in the group, eight clean sheets in 10 games here.
“We don’t have a points tally in mind or anything like that. We’re just taking each game is it comes and try and make sure we take everything we can from it.”
O’Neill then added: “It’s a great start (to the campaign). Of course, a very good start. This is a very, very competitive group. If you look at the results so far you can see that. The teams seem very well matched.”
Northern Ireland were certainly the stronger side in the first half, with Hungary rarely threatening until the latter stages.
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai attracted much of the attention in the pre-match build-up but on the night was kept largely quiet, other than his reactions to the home fans who had been on his case from the start, with the Liverpool midfielder waving his arms to wind them up further.
“There were a lot of things that were positive in the performance,” O’Neill added. “We played a very good side. I thought we were more than a match for the opposition…
“We just couldn’t find maybe enough to create that clear-cut chance to win the game.”
The one concern was the number of yellow cards shown by Spanish referee Ricardo De Burgos as four Northern Ireland players – Jamie Donley, Shea Charles, Isaac Price and Ethan Galbraith – joined O’Neill himself in the book, meaning six players will go into the next match under the threat of suspension.
“I was disappointed with some of the yellow cards that were given,” O’Neill said. “I was disappointed with some of the Hungarian players’ behaviour on the pitch, holding their face and screaming, and really there was no need for that.
“It was an honest competitive game. We didn’t need the nature of the simulation or the antics because ultimately the physio didn’t have to come on the pitch very much, so the guy who held his face and was rolling about on the ground, he recovered very quickly and got back up.
“To me, that’s gone, we want that away out of the game…(The referee) has to be stronger with that.”