All in a night's work again at Windsor Park for a Northern Ireland side that never ceases to amaze
Road to Russia getting a little closer for O'Neill's history makers
After yet another history-making night at Windsor, NIGEL GOULD assesses an achievement that few would have predicted just a few short years ago.
You simply run out of superlatives to describe Northern Ireland’s recent successes under Michael O’Neill’s expert tutelage.
History-makers, yes; a ubiquitous never-say-die attitude, for sure - a shed-load of self-belief, absolutely!
But it is so much more than this…
O’Neill has assembled a squad of granite-strong characters who constantly defy the norm – punching well above their weight every time they take to the field.
Last night, they were at again in front of a packed National Stadium at Windsor Park.
This time, though, patience was the key to success to beating the Czech Republic 2-0.
O’Neill’s side employed a clever waiting game strategy, allowing their opponents to dominate possession for large chunks of play without ever really turning the neat passing and movement into any real attack on goal.
While not the Euro force of the past, the Czechs are still a very useful and potentially dangerous side.
Make no mistake this was a significant result in a game that required just a point for Group C second place.
In the post-match interviews the likes of captain Steven Davis and goal-scoring hero Jonny Evans rightly paid tribute to the 12th man – the now legendary GAWA who helped get them over the line in last year's Euros and are playing their part again in the World Cup qualifers.
After last Friday night's victory over San Marino, O’Neill had cautioned against any premature celebrations when the job wasn’t actually finished.
But under a blood-red sky last night, the GAWA faithful was having none of it.
From the first whistle, the party was already under way.
And while the reality is that the job is still not yet done, securing the runners-up spot in any World Cup Qualifying group is a magnificent achievement and probably worthy of a party all on its own merit.
In addition, if further evidence was needed ... last night's win was their fifth on the trot - indeed fifth clean sheet -making O'Neill squad, boasting just three players playing at the highest level, the most successful in Northern Ireland's long history.
Next up the Germans, and with a play-off place almost certainly in the bag, who right now would bet against this bunch of history-makers being on the plane to Russia next summer?