Sanchez: We must be positive

Lawrie Sanchez is convinced Northern Ireland will have the correct mind-set when they face Poland on Wednesday.

The squad headed out to Warsaw for the next Group Six World Cup qualifier following a 4-0 defeat by England at Old Trafford.

After holding out in the first half Northern Ireland collapsed in the last 45 minutes.

Sanchez said: “It is my job to lift the players and make sure we are back in shape for the game on Wednesday. It is something I need to address with my staff. I am looking forward to doing that. That’s what I am paid for.

“When we send them out against Poland, I am sure we will be positive. We will be in the right frame of mind.”

Joe Cole made the breakthrough and Michael Owen added a second before Chris Baird scored an own goal. Frank Lampard completed a comprehensive victory – he also hit the woodwork as did Wayne Rooney.

Northern Ireland can ill-afford to be so generous again this week as Poland thrashed Azerbaijan 8-0 yesterday.

Anything less than a victory will end their slim play-off hopes once and for all. Sanchez said: “We shot ourselves in the foot against England.

“It was a gritty, determined and professional performance in the first half. You have to eradicate the poor defending, that can be resolved. But more than anything, we need to work at the mentality.

“We have ability, we can get so far with it. To go the extra distance we need the mentality to be right. It is something we need to address as a national team.”

While Sanchez was pleased with the display of Steven Davis of Aston Villa when he stepped off the bench he rebuked Birmingham’s Damien Johnson for getting a yellow card which rules him out of the game in Warsaw.

The Northern Ireland boss said: “Steven Davis got some of the game and showed he was fearless.

“When you have a player with that attitude, he will do for me. We can’t afford to lose a player (Johnson) for kicking the ball away.

“We are a small nation with a small group of players and we can ill-afford to lose players through suspension.”

Sheffield Wednesday striker James Quinn has rejoined the squad after being ruled out through suspension.