North going in right direction, says Gillespie

N. Ireland 2 Wales 3

The North staged a rousing fightback in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier only for Ryan Giggs to score the winner with a superb free-kick.

Gillespie, 30, is adamant they can bounce back in the final match of the campaign against Austria in Vienna on Wednesday.

“I still feel we are going in the right direction,” said the Sheffield United winger. “We have improved a lot and in other times we would not have come back like we did. I feel we can get the right result in Austria.

“I do not think we should be too worried about things because of the way we have improved prior to this game.

“We did okay for the opening period before they hit us with two goals very quickly. But we always feel we can score now.”

Gillespie scored only his second goal in 66 internationals by reducing the deficit 44 seconds into the second half.

Northern Ireland maintained the momentum and drew level in the 50th minute with Steve Davis’ first international goal.

Gillespie said: “I know it was a rare international goal for me, and I enjoyed it. But I would have enjoyed it more had we won the match.

“They played well in the first half, and Maik Taylor kept us in it. But we started the second period on fire and we felt there were goals for us.

“We didn’t expect to get two so soon, and then Ryan Giggs stepped up with something brilliant.”

Simon Davies and Carl Robinson had put Wales firmly in the driving seat before half-time with powerful finishes.

It could have worse for the home side but Taylor managed to parry John Hartson’s penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Tony Capaldi hauled back Davies. The Plymouth defender was booked and will miss the Austria match. With Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird both absent, Northern Ireland looked vulnerable at the back. Southampton defender Baird will be available to face Austria as he is free from suspension and looks likely to start.

Hartson had volunteered for penalty duty because he wanted to stuff the abuse he suffered from the home fans back down their throats.

Hartson was a target because of his Celtic links and was taunted from start to finish. And he jumped at the chance to take a penalty, with Wales already 2-0 ahead, at the end where most of the more vociferous abuse was coming from. But Taylor made a fine save from the spot-kick.

Hartson said: “I fancied the penalty, it would have been nice to score in that end because that is where I was getting a load of stick from their crowd.

“But I can handle that, it’s just like going to Ibrox so it is not a problem, it’s just part of the fun of it all.”

The Welsh round off their campaign in Cardiff on Wednesday against Azerbaijan.