Northern Ireland set sights on third successive win

Northern Ireland, fresh from their memorable win over England, were aiming for a third successive victory for the first time in 12 years while much-changed Wales were desperate for their first Group Six win going into the World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.

Lawrie Sanchez’s men were contemplating a third-place finish in the group if they could win today and then triumph in Austria next week.

But they were without skipper Aaron Hughes, who has had an hernia operation while full-back Chris Baird was suspended. Defenders Michael Duff, of Burnley, and Colin Murdock, of Rotherham, came into an otherwide unchanged side from that which beat England.

Wales decided not to risk young goalkeeper Lewis Price for what would have been his debut because of a hip injury. Veteran Paul Jones returned for the first time in a year.

Manager John Toshack opted for a change of tactics and played a 4-4-2 formation instead of 4-2-3-1. That meant Mark Delaney moved to full-back and James Collins replaced the suspended Danny Gabbidon at centre-back.

Robert Earnshaw started in attack alongside John Hartson, while teenagers Andrew Crofts and Dave Cotterill were on the bench for the first time.