North must keep faith with McIlroy

LAWRIE MCMENEMY has launched a staunch defence of Sammy McIlroy, the man who replaced him as Northern Ireland manager.

McIlroy takes his side into the Euro 2004 qualifier against Spain on June 11 without a victory since October 2001 following the defeat by Greece.

McMenemy has nothing but sympathy for his plight. "It doesn't matter who the manager is. Even Alex Ferguson couldn't get better results.

"You can only work with the people you have and Sammy doesn't have a great deal of choice. In Jim Boyce (president) and Dave Bowen (secretary) the IFA have two men who have been around a bit but some committee members might want a quick fix.

"But they have to show common sense and keep Sammy in place. No one is more committed than he is to Northern Ireland," he said.

Northern Ireland have now failed to find the target in 792 minutes and had two players sent off against Greece striker James Quinn and midfielder Keith Gillespie. It was again a frustrating night for Quinn, who plays in Holland for Willem II, and his partner Norwich's David Healy.

McMenemy said: "Scoring has always been a problem for Northern Ireland. I had James Quinn in my time as well. He was a willing lad but he couldn't get in West Brom's first team. He is now in Holland but he is not playing for Ajax, is he.

"David Healy is making a name for himself in the game. But the First Division is not the Premiership. That's a huge problem because Sammy only has a few players who play in the top flight."

Quinn and Gillespie will now be sidelined for the game against group favourites Spain after being dismissed at Windsor Park.

Gillespie accused Greece defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos of getting him sent off. "I don't know what I got the first booking for but I was annoyed straight away because I knew I would be out of the game against Spain.

"The guy really made a meal of it when I got the second yellow card. He lay down until the physio arrived to make sure I got booked. Five minutes before he fouled me and I got up straight away. Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe we are too honest," he said.