lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandJamie Donley tries his luck
Jamie Donley tries his luck
IF this continues, most Northern Ireland fans will hate Liverpool FC even more than Evertonians do.
A week after Hungary captain Dominic Szoboszlai became the pantomime villain for the Windsor Park crowd his Anfield clubmate Giorgi Mamardashvili proved to be the hero for Georgia in another goalless draw in Belfast.
The 6’6” shot-stopper kept out a late penalty kick from Isaac Price which should have given the hosts the victory their dominance deserved.
The save ‘Big Mama’ made minutes earlier, from substitute Josh Magennis, was even better.
Ruairi McConville (top) heads towards goal
Ruairi McConville (top) heads towards goal (Liam McBurney/PA)
NI captain on the night Shea Charles had won the ball off a visiting defender after yet another brave, high press, then rolled it right to the 36-year-old. Magennis struck his shot well, but Mamardashvili guessed right, dived left, and diverted the shot behind for a corner.
From that, the ball bounced up for Ruairi McConville to head against the bar – but VAR spotted the high boot from Georgia’s Nodar Lominadze which left the Norwich City man with a split eyebrow and a penalty was correctly awarded by the Austrian referee.
This time the Georgian goalkeeper dived to his right, but Price swept his shot to that same side, and the hosts were left without a goal at home in this Nations League campaign.
The massive positive is that they still haven’t conceded themselves, that super-strong defensive platform providing the basis for Michael O’Neill’s men to take eight points from four games and stay top of this group B2.
Michael O’Neill felt Northern Ireland should have won the game
Michael O’Neill felt Northern Ireland should have won the game (Liam McBurney/PA)
Still, centre-forward Jamie Donley wasn’t disguising that the failure to find the net themselves – for the second home game in a row - was something of a letdown:
“I just think because of the amount of chances we had tonight, and they had very little, I think we’re obviously a bit disappointed – but. yeah, it’s been a really positive camp.”
On the personal front, he’d have liked more, but is pleased with the faith boss O’Neill has shown in him:
“I’ve enjoyed it, playing all four games, but I’m obviously a little bit disappointed not to score.
“I think that’s my aim role as a striker, but Michael likes me to link the ball up and help with the build-up plays. Hopefully I can add some goals to my game, I’d like that a lot.”
Georgia had a new manager, Ramaz Svanadze stepping up from their U21s role to replace former France international Willy Sagnol after he had five-and-a-half years in charge.
The visitors still looked to their star and captain, Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and sure enough delightfully tricky footwork was soon on show from the number seven – but it was the one in a green shirt, Ethan Galbraith.
Georgia captain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contests possession with his Northern Ireland counterpart Shea Charles at Windsor Park.
Georgia captain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contests possession with his Northern Ireland counterpart Shea Charles at Windsor Park. Pic: Desmond Loughery Pacemaker Press
He danced out of trouble, then Shea Charles did likewise, setting the tone for a dominant first half, with NI keeping the ball well and pinning Georgia back.
The visitors didn’t help themselves early on with some sloppy passing, although they were under regular pressure from the home press.
For all their possession, though, the hosts barely troubled Mamardashvili, apart from a flicked header by that man McConville from a whipped Devenny centre, which the goalkeeper parried away to his left.
With the towering Saba Sazanov sweeping up, all Northern Ireland’s superiority was coming to nothing, as Donley ruefully acknowledged afterwards:
“We had a lot of the ball, but they were really good at defending crosses and that. I had a couple of chances that I could have maybe taken, or we could have crossed the ball a bit earlier.
“I think we can improve on that to create better chances.”
In contrast, out of nowhere, Pierce Charles had to show his chops at the other end, and did so superbly, plunging to his left to keep out a snapshot from Georgia’s number nine Zuriko Davitashvili.
The traffic soon flowed back in the other direction, including a lovely run by centre-back Tom Atcheson, a clever drag pass by Price, and another Devenny cross – this time just too far ahead of both Donley and Paddy Kelly.
The latter might have broken the deadlock had he held his nerve and held onto the ball he received from a lovely Trai Hume pass up the right wing – but he attempted a cutback and Lasha Dvali was able to divert it to his ’keeper.
The half finished with Price hitting the net from a free kick – but his shot was the wrong side for the home side’s liking.
Isaac Price of Northern Ireland after having his penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili of Georgia.
Isaac Price of Northern Ireland after having his penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili of Georgia. Photo: Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press (Andrew McCarroll/Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Pres)
NI continued on top early in the second half, but Kvaratskhelia grew into the game, especially after Hume had to move into midfield when Galbraith went off feeling his left hamstring.
Yet the home team finished more strongly, only for that man Mamardashvili to prove as imposing an obstacle as his name is long.
Overall, though, NI have to be very happy with their first four matches.
Next month they host Ukraine, before heading to Hungary – which will be the group decider unless the latter lose in Georgia while O’Neill’s side win again at last in Belfast.
No matter what happens in round five, Donley remains confident that promotion can be secured, saying:
“Going into next month, I think we’ll have a good chance of winning the group.
“We’ll start with the Ukraine game, and if we get three points there, then we’ll have a good chance of winning the group in Hungary. So, yeah, we’ll look forward to it.”
‘I think we’ll have a good chance of winning the group’: NI’s Jamie Donley confident despite another home stalemate
‘I think we’ll have a good chance of winning the group’: NI’s Jamie Donley confident despite another home stalemate