Northern Ireland centurion and coach Steve Davis has urged supporters to temper expectations with a dash of realism after beating Iceland on Tuesday night.
The 1-0 victory in Belfast was another positive step in the development of Michael O’Neill’s young squad and the last friendly before the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn.
Northern Ireland are in a group of four with Germany, Slovakia and Luxembourg so have yet to begin their qualifying campaign.
O’Neill used the international dates in March and this month to add more experience to his very exciting crop of players, drawing with the Swiss, crashing to Sweden, losing narrowly to Denmark and beating Iceland thanks to an Isaac Price strike.
Isaac Price of Northern Ireland celebrates his goal against Iceland at Clearer Twist Windsor Park.
Photo – Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press (Andrew McCarroll/Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Pres)
It was a ninth international goal in just 22 appearances for the 21-year-old, one of O’Neill’s starlets alongside brothers Pierce (19) and Shea Charles (21), Conor Bradley (21), Trai Hume (23), Ruairi McConville (20), Justin Devenny (21) and others.
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Michael O’Neill: Northern Ireland feeling positive ahead of World Cup qualifiers
The international manager is working his magic once again in his second stint at the helm and the progress of his young charges has Northern Ireland fans dreaming of another tournament final appearance.
Former Northern Ireland skipper Davis, the UK’s most capped international player with 140 appearances, played in the Euro 2016 finals in France and came up against Germany in Paris on June 21, losing 1-0.
(left to right) Northern Ireland’s manager Michael O’Neill, former Northern Ireland international Steven Davis, former Northern Ireland international footballer Jonny Evans, President of the Irish Football Association Conrad Kirkwood at a portrait unveiling before before Tuesday evening’s match at Windsor Park.
Photo – Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press (Liam McBurney/PA)
Now part of O’Neill’s backroom staff, Davis insists the fans are right to be excited about the future but called for the Green And White Army to be realistic.
“I think so, and I think there’s that understanding among the staff and the players”, said the former Southampton, Aston Villa and Rangers midfielder.
“It’s nice for the fans to be optimistic, that’s what it’s all about.
“They probably look at the age profile of the team and how they’ve done in recent times, and feel what level they can get to and that’s good excitement to have.
“I do think there is an understanding of the level of teams we are going to play.
“They’ve had a lot of exposure for their age.
“Michael employed that straight away, saying we need to give these players an opportunity, try to build something and be ready for a qualification campaign as soon as possible with a level of experience within these players.”
Ronan Hale (left) before his Northern Ireland debut, along with Shea Charles and Paul Smyth at Clearer Twist Windsor Park.
Photo – Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press (Andrew McCarroll/Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Pres)
Blooding the young players has accelerated their development and coming through at the same time augurs well for the future.
Their character and togetherness was evident against Iceland when the host went down to ten men when Brodie Spencer was sent off in the second half.
Iceland, who beat Scotland 3-1 last week, could not capitalise as Northern Ireland circled the wagons and arguably played better with ten men.
“Listen, you never want to have a man sent off, and in all honesty it wasn’t a sending off for me”, said Davis, who was in the dugout at Windsor Park.
“The way the players reacted to that galvanised the team, and that’s a really good quality to have.
“That’s one thing with this group, you see the togetherness off the pitch.
“The majority of them are all in and around the same age, they’ve grown up together, they really enjoy being in the environment together.”