WORLD CUP: 'Must-win' game for Northern Ireland as they take on Bulgaria at Windsor Park
Captain Steven Davis set to break British record for appearances
Northern Ireland return to World Cup qualifying action tonight (Wednesday) with a must-win game at home to Bulgaria.
Having lost their opener, the pressure is now on for Ian Baraclough's side to take all three points at the National Stadium at Windsor Park.
Jonny Evans described the game as "massive" but also said he was confident they could get the job done.
Meanwhile, Baraclough said his players did not need anybody to remind them of the stakes.
It may only be the second Group C fixture, but Baraclough has himself identified this as the sort of game where three points are a minimum requirement for his team to retain realistic hopes of reaching Qatar 2022, so he has no argument as the match is talked up.
But he insisted neither he nor his players will be paying attention to what is being said outside of the bubble.
"There is pressure on any game and we do that to ourselves,'' Baraclough said. "We think we're good enough, we have good enough individuals and as a collective we're a very strong group.
"When we put all that together we can test the best. We showed that for long periods against Italy.
"I trust the players.''
The night will be a special one for captain Steven Davis, who stands to break Peter Shilton's British appearance record as he earns his 126th cap, but the 36-year-old said his only concern at present was the result.
"We should demand from ourselves, we should expect of ourselves, we want to be ambitious and we want to be successful,'' the Rangers midfielder said.
"I don't have any concerns about people labelling this game a must-win.
"We want to win the game. We want to get ourselves off to a start and then try to build on it in September.
"Obviously this is a game we targeted from the start to get a win from so we're not going to shy away from that.''
Northern Ireland looked strong as they had the better of the second half in last Thursday's 2-0 defeat by Italy, while a youthful side held their own for much of Sunday's 2-1 friendly loss to the United States, but on Wednesday plaudits must be turned into points.
"I've watched them at the hotel and there is a relaxed manner about them,'' Baraclough said of his squad.
"When they're working there is an intensity about them and that's what tells me and the coaches that we've got a great group of players who are just missing the final link at the moment. That can change (quickly).''