Nations League: Northern Ireland's poor run continues as Austria win with two late goals

By Mark SterlingBBC Sport NI

Last updated on 15 November 2020.From the section Northern Ireland54

Stuart Dallas captained Northern Ireland on his 51st cap

Northern Ireland's poor run of results continued as two late goals saw them suffer an unlucky 2-1 defeat away to Austria in the Nations League.

Substitute Josh Magennis gave a much-changed NI the lead as they looked to bounce back from Thursday's crushing Euro play-off final loss to Slovakia.

However, goals from Louis Schaub, which looked offside, and Adrian Grbic saw off NI despite a solid display.

Ian Baraclough's men remain in danger of being relegated from League B.

The defeat means they have just one point from five matches in this campaign and they remain bottom of Group B1, three points behind third-placed Romania.

Northern Ireland host the Romanians in the final group match at Windsor Park on Wednesday night, but even a victory in Belfast may not be enough for them to avoid the drop.

Liam Boyce had an early chance for Northern Ireland but fired wide

Sunday's other game in the group, between Romania and Norway, was postponed because of a positive Covid-19 case in the Norwegian camp. Uefa has yet to decide how to allocate points for the game, but three points for Romania would mean Northern Ireland cannot match their points tally.

Magennis's opener came from good build-up play and, as Paddy McNair played the striker in, the home defence appealed for offside as the Hull City man swept home a composed finish.

Schaub's equaliser came from a right-wing cross but he appeared to be offside as he placed a low finish on the turn past Michael McGovern, who had replaced Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal for the visitors.

The winner came three minutes from time as Austria substitute Marko Arnautovic's pass played in Grbic and he was able to find the bottom corner to send his team top of the group table.

Having lost all four Nations League outings in the inaugural year of the competition under Michael O'Neill, Northern Ireland now have just one point from nine Nations League matches.

More worryingly for Baraclough, whose side beat Bosnia on penalties in the Euro play-off semi-final in October, they have failed to win during 90 minutes of any of his seven matches in charge since taking over from O'Neill.

Different shape suits much-changed NI

Josh Magennis — Magennis struck for his eighth Northern Ireland goal

Baraclough made eight changes to the starting line-up that lost to Slovakia on Thursday, with stand-in captain Stuart Dallas, midfielder Paddy McNair and striker Conor Washington the only three players retained.

With St Johnstone midfielder Ali McCann making his debut, Baraclough also changed the shape from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2, with Liam Boyce partnering Washington up front and Michael Smith deployed in an unfamiliar holding midfield role.

Despite the changes, or perhaps because of them, the team looked comfortable with the set-up and started the match in energetic fashion.

Having a strike partnership, as Northern Ireland did away to Norway in October, gave Baraclough's side more of an attacking threat and it almost helped give them the lead in the seventh minute.

Boyce latched on to a deflected through ball and went through on goal but, with Washington in space inside and looking for a pass, the Hearts man tried a shot which he dragged just wide.

Despite that, they both produced encouraging displays until substituted just after the hour mark for Gavin Whyte and goalscorer Magennis, with Whyte playing a part in the build-up to his strike partner's goal.

Back three stand firm until late goals

While the strike partnership worked well at one end of the pitch, going with a back three instead of a back four also gave Northern Ireland a solid look at the other.

It is by no means a shape the squad is unfamiliar with, but Conor McLaughlin will not have started alongside Daniel Ballard and Tom Flanagan before.

Ali McCann produced an energetic and composed Northern Ireland debut

After individual errors led to Slovakia's two goals in Belfast on Thursday, Northern Ireland did not look likely to concede in Vienna, and indeed looked set for a much-needed victory when Magennis scored.

They could not be blamed for Austria's equaliser, but Arnautovic added a new dimension to the hosts' attack and Craig Cathcart, who had come on as a substitute, failed to track Grbic as he ran on to Arnautovic's pass to slide in the winner.

NI in need of morale boost

The scoreline was harsh on a Northern Ireland team who responded positively to the huge disappointment they will have been feeling after missing out on reaching back-to-back Euro finals.

While the threat of relegation from the second tier of the Nations League could now be likely, irrespective of the outcome of Wednesday's visit of Romania, it is important for the morale of players, managers and supporters that Baraclough's side get a positive result.

Only a win will give them a chance of avoiding relegation, but the formbook does not make for impressive reading and any manager that goes seven games without a win in open play is bound to be concerned.

There is no doubting the hard work and commitment his players are showing, and there were elements of misfortune in both defeats this week, but statistics can quickly mount and the squad will be desperate to finish their 2020 fixtures with a victory.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Austria

Formation 4-2-3-1

12Pervan
21Lainer
3DragovicBooked at 10minsSubstituted forRanftlat 45'minutes
4Hinteregger
2UlmerSubstituted forGrbicat 78'minutes
14BaumgartlingerSubstituted forSchaubat 78'minutes
6Ilsanker
23Schlager
9SabitzerBooked at 90mins
8Alaba
11GregoritschSubstituted forArnautovicat 63'minutes

Substitutes

1Schlager
5Trauner
7Arnautovic
10Schaub
13Stankovic
15Ranftl
16Grbic
17Holzhauser
18Zulj
19Kalajdzic
20Onisiwo
22Wiesinger

Northern Ireland

Formation 3-5-2

1McGovernBooked at 79mins
22BallardSubstituted forCathcartat 83'minutes
2McLaughlin
4Flanagan
14Dallas
17McNair
19Smith
13McCannSubstituted forDavisat 83'minutes
11FergusonSubstituted forLewisat 36'minutes
16WashingtonSubstituted forMagennisat 62'minutes
9BoyceBooked at 25minsSubstituted forWhyteat 62'minutes

Substitutes

3Lewis
5Evans
6Galbraith
8Davis
12Peacock-Farrell
15McLaughlin
18Whyte
20Cathcart
21Magennis
23Hazard

Referee:: Maurizio Mariani

Match Stats

Home TeamAustriaAway TeamNorthern Ireland

Possession: Home71%; Away29%

Shots: Home10; Away5

Shots on Target: Home3; Away2

Corners: Home11; Away1

Fouls: Home15; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Austria 2, Northern Ireland 1.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Austria 2, Northern Ireland 1.

90'+4'
Booking
Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by Marcel Sabitzer (Austria).
90'+4'
Post update
Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'
Post update
Reinhold Ranftl (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Michael Smith (Northern Ireland).
89'
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
88'
Post update
Martin Hinteregger (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'
Post update
Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
87'
Goal!
Goal! Austria 2, Northern Ireland 1. Adrian Grbic (Austria) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a through ball.
86'
Post update
Martin Hinteregger (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'
Post update
Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
83'
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Steven Davis replaces Alistair McCann.
83'
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Craig Cathcart replaces Danny Ballard.
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Marko Arnautovic (Austria) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Xaver Schlager.
81'
Goal!
Goal! Austria 1, Northern Ireland 1. Louis Schaub (Austria) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adrian Grbic.
79'
Booking
Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card.
78'
Substitution
Substitution, Austria. Adrian Grbic replaces Andreas Ulmer.
78'
Substitution
Substitution, Austria. Louis Schaub replaces Julian Baumgartlinger.

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54 comments

Comment posted by Doctor Sorders, at 06:39 16 Nov 2020
No shame in losing this match. Austria have getting on for five times the population of N Ireland. Try being an England supporter like myself who is routinely disappointed with the lack of grit so many say N Ireland have. If they get relegated then it is what it is but at least they give their all.
Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 11:08 16 Nov 2020
What people fail to recognize in football is that every team now again needs a bit of luck, rub of the green, the ball to bounce just right every now again.

NI have not had that slice of luck when needed.

There are very fine margins between success and failure in football.
Comment posted by stringerbell, at 00:33 16 Nov 2020
Very unlucky. Good to see McCann get his debut and play well. Hopefully they'll bounce back vs Romania
Comment posted by Yann1964, at 00:26 16 Nov 2020
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! We find a way to lose. 29% possession in a game makes that pretty certain.
Comment posted by Harry X, at 12:39 16 Nov 2020
Although disappointed in not Qualifying for the Euros and recent results it is now time to rebuild.Michael was a fantastic N.I. Manager and has laid foundations for future success. I hope the senior players offer full support to the new manager in bringing the promising youth players through.The Best has been seen at Windsor and the Best will be seen again.💚⚽️
Comment posted by YEStam, at 10:02 16 Nov 2020
Great to see Ali McCann get his full International debut
Comment posted by Keep It Real, at 14:00 16 Nov 2020
No shame in that N.I., Look at the pool of players England have. Southgate, Pickford and 'DIRE' Dire must go and I'm an England and Spurs fan.
Comment posted by Bergman77, at 12:32 16 Nov 2020
It was always going to be a tough ask for IB , shows what a remarkable job O'Neil did in getting a tune out of these players and further proven by the way he is turning a under -performing Stoke around.
Comment posted by MarktheHorn, at 09:41 16 Nov 2020
What NI lack is a goal scorer and real attacking threat so once their defence is undone by an error from officials or players it’s hard for them to get back in to games.
Comment posted by Henry Maudslay Father of Machine Tools, at 00:41 16 Nov 2020
There's 2 nations on this planet in the football world who have failed massively on the world stage when they should have done better considering their resources and potential:

England and Russia

(and I'm English)
Reply posted by shadow warrior, at 11:11 16 Nov 2020
shadow warrior replied:
Russia

Why Russia

The next best team that should have won more is more than likely Belgium in recent years

And before that it was Portugal

And before that it was Spain

and never at anytime was Scotland
Comment posted by GC, at 07:15 16 Nov 2020
See if Big Sam can organise the defence and make NI hard to beat.
Comment posted by michael5698, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020
Baraclough out please. Dire manager who talked his way into the job rather than showed any track record. Get Tommy Wright in.
Reply posted by gg, at 00:46 16 Nov 2020
gg replied:
You could get europes best in, it won't make the team any better, the limited players we have can only play a certain way or they would get thumped every game.
Comment posted by Gil, at 16:57 16 Nov 2020
Both Irish sides are absolutely woeful at the moment, but at least NI try to play football. The ROI however are like crazed bulls chopping down everyone. Maybe the two countries should join up like the rugby team have?
Comment posted by fairplay2u, at 11:57 16 Nov 2020
It is what it is Northern Ireland. But they can never take away your Ulster pride and steel. At the end of the day you are still way above the current woeful state of the ROI team ! You always give 110%, have real supporters not glory hunters a bit like The Toon Army on Tyneside. Nurture your youth you will come good again. Develop the kids !
Reply posted by U17705805, at 13:42 16 Nov 2020
U17705805 replied:
Were you banging your drum while writing this, mate?
Comment posted by Jackhack, at 02:51 16 Nov 2020
I think Boyce and Magennis starting is the way to go. I haven't seen Washington have a shot or make an impact in any recent game. Looks to have lost confidence. A better overall performance than last week. Seems like Davis can be replaced. he's got nothing left to give this team.
Comment posted by gg, at 23:19 15 Nov 2020
NI starting to remind me of FA cup minnows, they show a lot of fight and grit but always end up losing, just haven’t got that couple of quality players that can change a game,not looking forward to the next few years of mundane football, at least they try.
Comment posted by U17705805, at 08:42 16 Nov 2020
Decent performance with... 29% possession and offside goal? Was I watching a different match?
Let's be clear - NI football team are woeful!
Reply posted by goons lol, at 10:00 16 Nov 2020
goons lol replied:
There are many bigger nations a lot more woeful! Northern Ireland play their hearts out for a small nation.
Comment posted by EDWARD, at 09:50 16 Nov 2020
Combing the two leagues together would improve both nations. Sadly Like two stubborn old men won't happen and like most small nations. Will die a death.
Reply posted by gg, at 13:32 16 Nov 2020
gg replied:
Just look at the Ireland rugby team, not many prods want to be surrounded by Irish tricolours and stand up for the Irish anthem and all the games played in the republic, maybe Northern Ireland should have their own rugby team 👍🏻🇬🇧
Comment posted by TheBlaggert, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020
Hehehehe, this is just brilliant. Absolutely woeful team
Reply posted by gg, at 00:42 16 Nov 2020
gg replied:
I disagree, Austria weren't that bad 😘
Comment posted by U18884077, at 10:13 16 Nov 2020
Very hard to watch this level of football and even consider it International Standard bit like comparing NOI Premier league with the Premiership. Can understand why 45% of the population in NOI can not support this team as going to the depleted Windsor Park is like going to Ibrox lot of fans wearing blue tops when the team play in green
Reply posted by OWC, at 10:33 16 Nov 2020
OWC replied:
What a load of utter nonsense!!!

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Italy	5	2	3	0	5	2	3	9
2	Netherlands	5	2	2	1	5	3	2	8
3	Poland	5	2	1	2	5	4	1	7
4	Bos-Herze	5	0	2	3	3	9	-6	2

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	France	5	4	1	0	8	3	5	13
2	Portugal	5	3	1	1	9	2	7	10
3	Croatia	5	1	0	4	7	13	-6	3
4	Sweden	5	1	0	4	3	9	-6	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Russia	5	2	2	1	9	7	2	8
2	Hungary	5	2	2	1	5	4	1	8
3	Turkey	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
4	Serbia	5	0	3	2	4	7	-3	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Wales	5	4	1	0	4	0	4	13
2	Finland	5	4	0	1	6	2	4	12
3	R. of Ireland	5	0	2	3	1	4	-3	2
4	Bulgaria	5	0	1	4	2	7	-5	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Montenegro	5	3	1	1	6	2	4	10
2	Luxembourg	5	3	0	2	7	5	2	9
3	Azerbaijan	5	1	2	2	2	4	-2	5
4	Cyprus	5	1	1	3	2	6	-4	4

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Belgium	5	4	0	1	12	4	8	12
2	Denmark	5	3	1	1	6	3	3	10
3	England	5	2	1	2	3	4	-1	7
4	Iceland	5	0	0	5	3	13	-10	0

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Germany	5	2	3	0	10	7	3	9
2	Spain	5	2	2	1	7	3	4	8
3	Ukraine	5	2	0	3	5	10	-5	6
4	Switzerland	5	0	3	2	6	8	-2	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Austria	5	4	0	1	8	5	3	12
2	Norway	4	3	0	1	11	3	8	9
3	Romania	4	1	1	2	4	8	-4	4
4	Northern Ireland	5	0	1	4	3	10	-7	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Scotland	5	3	1	1	5	3	2	10
2	Czech Rep	5	3	0	2	7	5	2	9
3	Israel	5	1	2	2	6	7	-1	5
4	Slovakia	5	1	1	3	5	8	-3	4

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	North Macedonia	5	2	3	0	9	7	2	9
2	Armenia	5	2	2	1	8	6	2	8
3	Georgia	5	1	3	1	6	6	0	6
4	Estonia	5	0	2	3	5	9	-4	2

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Slovenia	5	4	1	0	8	1	7	13
2	Greece	5	3	2	0	6	1	5	11
3	Kosovo	5	0	2	3	3	6	-3	2
4	Moldova	5	0	1	4	1	10	-9	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Belarus	5	3	1	1	8	5	3	10
2	Albania	5	2	2	1	5	2	3	8
3	Lithuania	5	1	2	2

Different shape suits much-changed NI

Back three stand firm until late goals

NI in need of morale boost

Line-ups

Austria

Substitutes

Northern Ireland

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by Doctor Sorders, at 06:39 16 Nov 2020Doctor Sorders

Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 11:08 16 Nov 2020shadow warrior

Comment posted by stringerbell, at 00:33 16 Nov 2020stringerbell

Comment posted by Yann1964, at 00:26 16 Nov 2020Yann1964

Comment posted by Harry X, at 12:39 16 Nov 2020Harry X

Comment posted by YEStam, at 10:02 16 Nov 2020YEStam

Comment posted by Keep It Real, at 14:00 16 Nov 2020Keep It Real

Comment posted by Bergman77, at 12:32 16 Nov 2020Bergman77

Comment posted by MarktheHorn, at 09:41 16 Nov 2020MarktheHorn

Comment posted by Henry Maudslay Father of Machine Tools, at 00:41 16 Nov 2020Henry Maudslay Father of Machine Tools

Reply posted by shadow warrior, at 11:11 16 Nov 2020shadow warrior

Comment posted by GC, at 07:15 16 Nov 2020GC

Comment posted by michael5698, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020michael5698

Reply posted by gg, at 00:46 16 Nov 2020gg

Comment posted by Gil, at 16:57 16 Nov 2020Gil

Comment posted by fairplay2u, at 11:57 16 Nov 2020fairplay2u

Reply posted by U17705805, at 13:42 16 Nov 2020U17705805

Comment posted by Jackhack, at 02:51 16 Nov 2020Jackhack

Comment posted by gg, at 23:19 15 Nov 2020gg

Comment posted by U17705805, at 08:42 16 Nov 2020U17705805

Reply posted by goons lol, at 10:00 16 Nov 2020goons lol

Comment posted by EDWARD, at 09:50 16 Nov 2020EDWARD

Reply posted by gg, at 13:32 16 Nov 2020gg

Comment posted by TheBlaggert, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020TheBlaggert

Reply posted by gg, at 00:42 16 Nov 2020gg

Comment posted by U18884077, at 10:13 16 Nov 2020U18884077

Reply posted by OWC, at 10:33 16 Nov 2020OWC

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 15th November 2020

As It Stood

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

Comment posted by Doctor Sorders, at 06:39 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 11:08 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by stringerbell, at 00:33 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Yann1964, at 00:26 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Harry X, at 12:39 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by YEStam, at 10:02 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Keep It Real, at 14:00 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Bergman77, at 12:32 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by MarktheHorn, at 09:41 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Henry Maudslay Father of Machine Tools, at 00:41 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by shadow warrior, at 11:11 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by GC, at 07:15 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by michael5698, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by gg, at 00:46 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Gil, at 16:57 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by fairplay2u, at 11:57 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by U17705805, at 13:42 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by Jackhack, at 02:51 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by gg, at 23:19 15 Nov 2020

Comment posted by U17705805, at 08:42 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by goons lol, at 10:00 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by EDWARD, at 09:50 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by gg, at 13:32 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by TheBlaggert, at 00:34 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by gg, at 00:42 16 Nov 2020

Comment posted by U18884077, at 10:13 16 Nov 2020

Reply posted by OWC, at 10:33 16 Nov 2020