Trio attract Millar praise

Northern Ireland U21 manager Roy Millar has praised three of his young charges after the 2-1 defeat by Germany in a friendly in Torgau, near Leipzig.

Daryl Fordyce of Portsmouth, Matthew Hazley of Stoke and Jamie Mulgrew of Linfield showed they have the potential to feature in the next European Championships.

Fordyce opened the scoring with a header in the 10th minute, following a cross from Mulgrew, before going off with a knock at half time.

Hazley came close in the 38th minute after a snaking run, sending his shot over the top.

Millar said: “Daryl did well, as did Jamie, and scored a good goal, but he got a knock and we had to take him off at half time.

“That upset our rhythm a little bit.

“Matthew had a good game on the left wing. He has a bit of prescence, a bit of power about him.”

However, Millar was disappointed at the manner of the defeat.

Jerome Boateng, after 15 minutes, and Kevin Schindler, after 45, found the target for the hosts to turn the game around.

Kieran McKenna was then sent off after picking up his second yellow card in the 72nd minute.

Millar said: “We should have got something out of the game as this was not a great German team.

“We are a good side but our second-half performance was poor. Our passing was not good enough and we could not keep possession of the ball.

“Kieran McKenna’s sending off did not help either, although I have no complaints about that.”