Ian Baraclough: Play-off defeat ‘will hurt for some time’

Ian Baraclough admitted the pain of Thursday’s defeat will stay with him. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough admitted it will take a long time to get over the disappointment of missing out on a place at Euro 2020.

Hopes of reaching a second consecutive European Championships were dashed in a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Slovakia in Thursday’s qualifying play-off final, a night when luck rarely seemed to be on the side of Baraclough’s men.