'We fear no-one' Evans looking forward to World Cup play-offs

Bitter sweet end to Group C campaign after own goal in Oslo

Jonny Evans
Published 9th Oct 2017

Northern Ireland are just 180 minutes away from a possible place in next year’s World Cup finals.

Michael O’Neill’s side will find out next week who they will play in the two-legged play-off held in November.

As it stands they will not be one of the four seeded teams so they could be drawn against the likes of Portugal and Italy.

Jonny Evans said they are not concerned about who they face.

“No matter who we get we will always fancy our chances over two legs,” he said.

“We are a team that are very difficult to beat.

“I think it is something we can look forward to and enjoy and I am sure the whole country will embrace it.

“Like the Euros it will be a special occasion.”

It was a bitter sweet end to Northern Ireland’s Group C campaign after losing to Norway through a bizarre Chris Brunt own goal.

Qualification for the play-offs was guaranteed before kick off after Scotland could only manage a 2-2 draw away to Slovenia.

Brunt says his 71st-minute mistake which saw him shank an attempted left-footed clearance into the roof of his own net, was “disappointing”.

“I went with my left foot to try and clear it thinking there was a player behind me and obviously I couldn't do much. I'm not thinking too much about the goal or the loss,'' the West Brom man said.

“To be defeated is disappointing, especially considering the campaign we've had and I think that is the first time in a long time we have had two defeats in a row.

“It's disappointing but obviously we knew before the game that we had qualified for the play-offs so that was going through our minds. I suppose it is job done in a round-about way.''

Conor Washington

The NI team-sheet had already been lodged before the Scotland game finished and it included six players who would have missed the first leg of the play-off if they were booked again.

After the game O’Neill said it was a proud occasion for everyone.

“The main thing was to get through tonight unscathed in terms of suspensions which we managed to do and we can look forward to a massive game in November,” he sai