1 week Ago
A 2-0 victory over Belarus has left Northern Ireland on the brink of promotion to League B. Daniel Ballard and Dion Charles were on target for the hosts as they turned on the style in the second half. The Charles boys, captain Shea and Dion, helped to inspire a win which leaves Northern Ireland needing just a point against Luxembourg on Monday to finish top and land promotion.
"We want to win the final game, we want to win on the road, it's important from that perspective of winning away from home," said O'Neill. "Dion scored, which was important, and his performance was very good. He has come to international football later after being a regular scorer for Bolton and it's important for him to score at this level because his performances have been good.
"He is capable of playing club football at a higher level. Scoring here proved that. "Shea's performance wasn't based on the armband, he has that quality and you know what you are going to get, quality in possession and his good understanding of the game, he is just a great player and makes the team play and tick alongside Ali McCann.
"We have scored nine goals and conceded one, which is a big positive. "There is a great attitude in the dressing room but they know there are areas in which we can improve. "Luxembourg have been unlucky in the group and they have developed.
It won't be an easy game and the advantages of this competition is if we win the group we will be in a group of five and won't have to deal with a Play-Off situation in March with some of the other teams. "We want to win the group and leave it to the footballing gods after that with regard to a World Cup Play-Off." Northern Ireland were shut out in the first half but they moved through the gears after the break and the win was sealed by Ballard's header from Shea Charles' corner and the penalty given for handball, which was buried by Dion Charles.
"We had worked on this all week, if you don't score, the opposition get confidence and belief in that they are doing," added O'Neill. "They sat deep and we had to try and find a solution. It was hard to get in behind them and at times we caused our own problems with the choices we made on the ball.
"It's the area we need to improve on but it's the hardest part. "You are playing against ten men behind the team and you are relying on something individual or a good combination play. "We should have scored from the one Conor Bradley got in and flashed across the box.
"It was frustrating but we showed them where we needed to improve at half-time." Northern Ireland came out with renewed purpose in the second half and got their reward. "We had to recognise areas to get in behind and we pressed the ball well," added O'Neill.
"We created physical pressure and the goal changed the game which we then managed well. "I felt we defended the box well." O'Neill explained the decision to stick with Pierce Charles ahead of the returning Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
"He had two clean sheets, good distribution and temperament," said O'Neill. "I don't think that was a difficult decision, Bailey knows he has to get back into his club side. "He has not had the best start at Birmingham but we haven't lost faith in him, he is an experienced goalkeeper at international level.
"Pierce hasn't done anything to merit being taken out of the team and the other goalkeepers haven't done enough to change my thinking.".
