Northern Ireland 0-0 Hungary: Michael O’Neill ‘optimistic’ as NI keep unbeaten begin

Chances have been at a premium at Windsor Park as each defences got here out on high.

Patrick Kelly hit the crossbar within the first half for Northern Ireland, and Isaac Price had an effort overwhelmed away by Balazs Toth.

After Dan Ballard controversially conceded a penalty in Georgia, Shea Charles additionally had a penalty enchantment waved away within the lead-up to the Kelly probability for the same incident.

While O’Neill mentioned he had but to see it again, he did quip that “the referee by no means appears to make the stroll for us to the aspect of the pitch. It by no means appears to occur for us.”

The menace of Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was largely nullified all through the sport as Hungary, like Northern Ireland, struggled to create any clear-cut possibilities.

The solely save that Pierce Charles needed to make in purpose was when a torpid clearance led to Alex Toth taking pictures in direction of purpose within the closing levels, however the QPR stopper was in any other case untroubled.

After a 5,000-mile journey from Georgia of their opening sport, Northern Ireland needed to rapidly reset and O’Neill admitted he noticed “two drained groups” on the finish of the sport.

“I believe our preparation, our first sport when it comes to being away from house and all the things, was harder.

“I felt like Hungary received a bit bit stronger in direction of the tip.”