Jeers and cheers greet Northern Ireland’s stalemate away to Cyprus

NORTHERN IRELAND MUST hope it’s thirteenth time fortunate within the Nations League as their newest outing led to a colorless goalless draw towards Cyprus.

Ian Baraclough’s facet took solely their third ever level within the competitors however the efficiency and the end result was a great distance from what they – and the 600 travelling followers – had anticipated towards a facet ranked a hundred and fifth on the planet after the setback of Thursday’s 1-0 house defeat to Greece.

Ali McCann missed a sitter within the remaining moments however, given what number of possibilities Cyprus had squandered, Northern Eire needed to be grateful to not have been enjoying higher opposition.

Vital enchancment will probably be required towards Kosovo – 2-0 winners right here three days in the past – in Pristina on Thursday.

Baraclough handed Kyle Lafferty his first aggressive begin since October 2020 and gave a full debut to Shea Charles as he made 4 modifications, however regardless of the recent faces, Thursday’s issues of misplaced passes and disjointed play have been obvious from the beginning.

Charles had stated he was shocked to make his debut as a 79th minute substitute towards Greece, but when he was shocked about transferring straight into the beginning line-up it didn’t present as he comfortably stroked the ball round in entrance of a again 4.

Cyprus’ Pieros Sotiriou and Northern Eire’s Ciaron Brown bounce for the ball .

Supply: AP/PA Photographs

Northern Eire’s issues got here every time they tried to maneuver it ahead.

Lafferty, who was a goal of the house followers all night time after a quick spell in Cyprus with Anorthosis Famagusta final 12 months earlier than his return to Kilmarnock, performed with intent however was properly marshalled by Cyprus’ again three as Northern Eire struggled to provide him any service.

After they did create an opportunity within the twelfth minute it fell to George Saville, but to attain a global purpose after 39 caps, and he scooped Paddy McNair’s cross excessive and extensive.

Cyprus have been trying extra harmful on the break, with the 18-year-old Loizos Loizou – who performs for Neil Lennon at Omonia Nicosia – their brightest spark as he gave Paddy Lane and Ciaron Brown a radical examination on the left of Northern Eire’s defence.

Loizou examined Bailey Peacock-Farrell within the seventeenth minute, then skipped away from Jonny Evans solely to lose his stability as he ready to shoot.

Northern Eire’s finest transfer noticed Lane and Niall McGinn work area for a Saville cross on the left, however Gavin Whyte may solely get the faintest contact on the ball earlier than it was labored again for a Charles effort that was deflected extensive for a nook.

And Northern Eire have been grateful to not be trailing on the break as Cyprus defender Fanos Katelaris rattled the crossbar with a shot from distance.

There was a vivid begin to the second half as Northern Eire pushed ahead with some slicker play.

However after Whyte’s shot was held by Neofytos Michael, they have been fortunate to not be caught on the break as Ioannis Pittas raced clear, solely to stumble and be robbed of the ball by the tireless Steven Davis.

Grigoris Kastanos then flashed a shot over earlier than Peacock-Farrell was required to disclaim Marinos Tzionis with a sensible save at his close to put up.

Baraclough handed out two extra debuts as Brodie Spencer and Conor McMenamin got here on simply after the hour, then turned to Shayne Lavery inside the ultimate quarter-hour.

Probabilities got here at each ends in a frantic finale. Pavlos Korrea someway dragged a shot extensive from eight yards out earlier than McCann, working on to McMenamin’s cross, side-footed the fallacious facet of the put up from point-blank vary.

The ultimate whistle was greeted by some jeers from the away finish earlier than applause broke out on one other hugely-frustrating night time for the Inexperienced and White Military.