FOOTBALL: defeat for Northern Ireland but plenty of positives for Baraclough
Northern Ireland put up a gritty performance against a strong Ukraine side last night (Thursday) but lost 1-0.
A number of chances fell to Ian Baraclough's side after while Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell pulled off a raft of fine saves.
However, after Oleksandr Zubkov highlighted a strong Ukrainian start with a 10th-minute goal it looked as though the hosts might cruise to a big win, but they spent much of the second half on the back foot as Northern Ireland gave Andriy Shevchenko plenty to think about going into Euro 2020.
The ex-Chelsea man will be relieved to come away with the win, his side's first in eight after a dominant run through qualifying, but Northern Ireland should not leave Dnipro too downhearted.
Baraclough fielded another strong side given the options in his squad, but two of the goal-scorers from Sunday's 3-0 win over Malta were missing as Jordan Jones was not involved while Gavin Whyte was among the substitutes.
Leeds star Stuart Dallas was again handed the captain's armband in the absence of Steven Davis.
Ukraine, boosted by a change in regulations which saw 15,000 fans allowed into the Dnipro Arena, were eager to put on a show 10 days out from their opening Euro 2020 fixture against Holland.
After the game, Baraclough said there were plenty of positives to take from it and he praised the players for their superb efforts over the last couple of games.
Meanwhile, St Johnstone midfielder Ali McCann said Northern Ireland were unfortunate not to have grabbed at least a point.
"It was a tough game,'' McCann said. I thought it was a poor goal to concede from us and it doesn't start us off too well, but I thought we grew back into it and put in a good performance in the second half.
"We can probably count ourselves unlucky not to come away with something but it was a good team performance, particularly in the second half, and we can take loads of positives into going into the next camp.''.