Michael O’Neill: Behind-closed-doors Belarus game ‘not ideal’ says NI boss

O’Neill’s side sit third in Group C3 after their opening victory against Luxembourg at Windsor Park and away defeat against Bulgaria in September.

While he was frustrated that NI were unable to rescue a point against Bulgaria in Plovdiv, he hopes for two positive results in this October window as his side look make up for the loss and move up the table.

“It was a good window for us, we were disappointed to lose the game in Bulgaria. It was a test for us, but I think our performance was decent at times and we lost a poor goal,” O’Neill explained.

“We were disappointed not to take four points from that window and we’re hoping to make up for it in this window.”

O’Neill admits that a lesson taken from his team’s performance in Bulgaria is that they must react better to going a goal behind.

He is hopeful that additional time on the training pitch afforded due to his side playing on Saturday, then Tuesday, can aid preparations.

“Our difficulties have come when we have gone behind in games, how we get back into them and that is something we need to develop,” O’Neill added.

“I’m looking forward to it [start of the next international break] because it is the longest lead in that we’ll have as we play on a Saturday, so we’ll have a bit longer time with the players and we can build into the second game.”