Northern Ireland are on the brink of securing second place in their World Cup qualifying group after beating San Marino 3-0 to record their fourth successive victory.

Liam Boyce scored his first Northern Ireland goal in the win over New Zealand to stake his claim for a starting berth in next week's World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan.

Substitute Kyle Lafferty scored twice as Northern Ireland recorded a 4-0 victory over minnows San Marino in the first international to be staged at the refurbished Windsor Park.

Both countries won one game and exited Euro 2016 at the same stage, but what would the best combined Republic and Northern Ireland team look like? Brendan O’Brien, who swapped between the camps during the tournament and covered all eight games, makes his selection.

One French media outlet labelled him ‘the unknown Irishman’, and no-one is throwing his name into the list of Golden Boot contenders, but few players are so central to their team’s hopes in France as Kyle Lafferty is to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland 1 Slovenia 0: Northern Ireland eclipsed Billy Bingham’s team of the mid 1980s by stretching their unbeaten run into double figures, as they beat Slovenia 1-0 in their friendly in Belfast last night.

Kilmarnock 2 Celtic 2: Kallum Higginbotham scored a dramatic and cheeky late penalty as Kilmarnock came from behind twice to snatch a 2-2 draw against Celtic at Rugby Park.

Scotland 1 Northern Ireland 0: A late header by substitute Christophe Berra gave Scotland a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in their Vauxhall International Challenge match at Hampden Park.

Striker Will Grigg is set to miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Israel.

Celtic 4 Aberdeen 3

Malta 0 Northern Ireland 0

Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill hopes his young players will take their chance to shine in tonight’s friendly against Malta at Ta’qali National Stadium.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Aberdeen 1

St Mirren 1 Aberdeen 0

RANGERS closed the gap on Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Celtic to two points with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen thanks to a stunning overhead kick from Nikica Jelavic.

Aberdeen 0 Rangers 1

St Mirren 1 Aberdeen 1

Dundee Utd 3 Aberdeen 1

Celtic 9 Aberdeen 0

Aberdeen 2 Rangers 3

NEW Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is enduring a baptism of fire in his first few weeks in the job.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has heralded Robbie Fowler’s homecoming with a glowing tribute to Liverpool’s goal-scoring legend.