Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualification hopes suffered a serious blow as they were beaten 1-0 by Latvia in Riga.
Euro 2008 qualification hopes dented
Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualification hopes suffered a serious blow as they were beaten 1-0 by Latvia in Riga.
The game was decided on 56 minutes when unfortunate captain Chris Baird diverted into his own net from a low Latvian cross.
Nigel Worthington's men battled hard, but Latvia were resolute and broke up Irish play by putting in many a fierce challenge.
The result was unexpected given Northern Ireland's recent good form and the fact that Latvia had lost seven games in a row, including friendlies.
Imperative
Manager Nigel Worthington has to lift the squad for the match in Iceland on Wednesday where a victory is now imperative.
It was his second game in charge and his first defeat. But the Province struggled to get their game together.
Northern Ireland played some good football, but only in patches, in the first half.
A quick break caught Latvia cold inside the first minute. David Healy picked out Steven Davis and he released Kyle Lafferty.
The Burnley striker, however, delivered a weak cross and the move broke down.
Latvia hit back in the 13th minute and Maris Verpakovskis broke forward, only to drag his effort wide of the post.
The Hadjuk Split striker nearly got on the end of a good cross from Juris Laizans then fired a shot wide of the post in the 22nd minute.
Two minutes later Imants Bleidelis got clear down the right but he only succeeded in sending his cross over the bar.
The Province broke out of their defensive shell in the 26th minute when Keith Gillespie raced forward but directed his effort straight at goalkeeper Andris Vanins.
Healy, who has scored 11 goals in the qualifying campaign, suddenly burst into life in the 31st minute when he cut inside and tested Vanins.
Encouraging
The goalkeeper made a good block but this was more encouraging for Nigel Worthington's side.
Healy again made room out of nothing in the 43rd minute and fired a snap shot wide of the target after being set up with Elliott.
Worthington decided to keep things as they were in the hope that his team could raise the tempo.
However, it was Latvia who carved out the first chance of the second half when Verpakovskis sent a shot into Maik Taylor's body.
Then Bleidelis raced away past George McCartney down the left in the 53rd minute.
It was a dangerous moment for Northern Ireland but Bledelis was wasteful sending his cross onto the roof of the net.
The Province then launched a swift counter attack and Lafferty dragged his effort wide with Evans screaming for the ball on the right.
Rocked
Northern Ireland were rocked in the 56th minute when Latvia took the lead.
Andrejs Rubins skipped away from Clingan and found Verpakovskis who delivered the ball into the area.
Baird got his bearings wrong and only succeeded in beating his own goalkeeper.
It was Northern Ireland who were looking low on confidence, not to mention intelligence going in a crucial period of the game.
There was little service to Healy with Gillespie and Elliott struggling to get into the match.
Sheffield United winger Gillespie was left clear inside the area in the 85th minute when substitute Chris Brunt played the ball in.
However, the experienced international snatched at his effort and sent it high over the bar.
Gillespie then sent a shot into Vanins' arms and Evans saw his header parried by the goalkeeper as Northern Ireland failed to break the deadlock.
