Michael O’Neill admitted poor defending price Northern Ireland pricey in a dangerous 4-2 defeat to Slovenia however it was one other recreation of superb margins in Ljubljana.
Northern Ireland ended the night time having created extra possibilities than their hosts however on the fallacious finish of the scoreline as they struggled to include Slovenia’s strike pairing of Benjamin Sesko and Andraz Sporar.
Isaac Price’s first worldwide purpose had cancelled out Sporar’s third-minute strike however all too shortly Northern Ireland have been behind once more when Petar Stojanovic’s strike deflected off Jonny Evans in the seventeenth minute, with Sesko giving Slovenia respiratory house earlier than the break.
Although Evans received O’Neill’s aspect again into it in the 53rd minute, nearly instantly Sporar settled it to ship what is definitely a deadly blow to Northern Ireland’s hopes of progressing from Group H as they misplaced for a fourth straight match.
But though they conceded 4, O’Neill may very well be proud of the attacking intent confirmed by his aspect, with Conor McMenamin carrying the risk after getting the nod on the proper wing.
“It was a game full of incident clearly, six goals,” O’Neill stated. “I assumed we performed very properly in the sport. We defended poorly at occasions, we struggled to cope with Sesko and Sporar who we knew can be the most important risk and so they proved to be that.
“But we did loads of good issues in the sport. Some of the attacking play was very excellent, we created loads of possibilities and that was the very best attacking play we’ve had in the marketing campaign to this point. Playing with two wingers helped us with the possibilities we created.
“The most disappointing factor in the sport is how we managed the interval in the sport from 1-1 to 2-1, I feel that was the interval the place we would have liked to be secure and we weren’t. Also from 3-2 to 4-2, we conceded too early after the sport went to 3-2.
“We were trying to find a way back in the last 15 minutes and asked some questions and again the goalkeeper makes two or three good saves. It was an open game. I was disappointed to lose the game but pleased with a lot of aspects, some of the younger players were terrific.”
There have been late possibilities for McMenamin and substitutes Josh Magennis and Paul Smyth, however though Northern Ireland had extra possession and extra possibilities than their hosts, they lacked the form of firepower provided by RB Leipzig’s Sesko and Sporar of Panathinaikos.
After popping out on the fallacious finish of three consecutive 1-0 defeats, this was a really totally different consequence, however an analogous story of Northern Ireland not being outplayed.
“The biggest difference in the game was probably the front two,” O’Neill stated. “It’s a giant a part of the staff. I don’t assume we noticed loads between the groups on the night time however they have been scientific.
“Both Sorpar and Sesko were a threat all night. Some of our players were excellent as well and the chances we created, we’re probably disappointed we only scored twice in the game. We have to accept the defeat and move on.”
McMenamin was the brightest spark, with the 28-year-old displaying the boldness gained from his summer time transfer from Glentoran to St Mirren.
“Conor had a great game, he was very, very positive from the outset,” O’Neill stated. “He’s a participant who has come late to worldwide soccer, late to skilled soccer.
“In the summer he got his first move into the Scottish Premiership and I think he’s made great strides in the space of six to eight weeks he’s been in the there so there’s a lot more in Conor.”
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