Michael O'Neill disappointed with late goal as Northern Ireland draw with Wales
Friday 25 March 2016 00:10, UK
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was disappointed not to come away with a win in the 1-1 friendly draw against Wales in Cardiff.
O'Neill experimented in Cardiff, both with personnel and formation, as Paddy McNair excelled in an unfamiliar midfield berth, while Conor Washington was handed a maiden international start in the city he used to live in.
And they were on course for their first victory in an away friendly for a decade until Gareth McAuley upended Simon Church in the box after Craig Cathcart's opener.
"We were very disciplined in a lot of our play," O'Neill said. "First half we played with three at the back and there were positives in that, but equally things we need to work on.
"Having gone ahead it was disappointing to lose the goal in the nature that we did. I thought we looked comfortable.
"It's just the nature of the goal - I haven't seen the penalty back to see how significant the challenge was.
"I think we learned that we can play in that system. There are also things we need to work on with it as well."
Northern Ireland step up preparations for the Euros with a home clash against Slovenia on Monday, before friendlies against Belarus and Slovakia in May and June.
