Sanchez hails North after Healy’s Windsor winner

NORTHERN IRELAND manager Lawrie Sanchez hailed his side’s powers of recovery as they entered the winter recess in a healthy position after beating Latvia 1-0 at Windsor Park.

David Healy’s first-half goal earned them the three points which moves them to seven points from four games, and Sanchez felt the team’s response after a 3-0 defeat to Iceland in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier had been magnificent.

Northern Ireland are now third in Group F. Asked if the win had given his side a chance to qualify, Sanchez said: “It’s a long way, but what we’ve done after a poor start is recover very well and credit goes to the players.