Behind closed doors Belarus game 'not ideal' - O'Neill

Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland side currently sit third in Group C3

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill says their behind-closed-doors Uefa Nations League game against Belarus will "have the feel of a fixture played during Covid".

The game will take place in the ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg in Hungary on Saturday, 12 October with no fans present due to Uefa restrictions on Belarus.

Despite expressing his disappointment that no Northern Ireland fans will be able to attend the game, O'Neill believes playing in the empty stadium will not affect his side.

"It is not ideal them playing in a neutral venue, but we will have to deal with it, and it will have a different feel," he said.

"It will have the feel of a fixture played during Covid so the players are familiar with having played in empty stadiums in recent times. It shouldn't diminish the importance of the game."

NI hoping to 'make up' for Bulgaria loss in October double-header

O'Neill's side sit third in Group C3 after their opening victory against Luxembourg at Windsor Park and away defeat against Bulgaria in September.

While he was frustrated that NI were unable to rescue a point against Bulgaria in Plovdiv, he hopes for two positive results in this October window as his side look make up for the loss and move up the table.

"It was a good window for us, we were disappointed to lose the game in Bulgaria. It was a test for us, but I think our performance was decent at times and we lost a poor goal," O'Neill explained.

"We were disappointed not to take four points from that window and we're hoping to make up for it in this window."

O'Neill admits that a lesson taken from his team's performance in Bulgaria is that they must react better to going a goal behind.

He is hopeful that additional time on the training pitch afforded due to his side playing on Saturday, then Tuesday, can aid preparations.

"Our difficulties have come when we have gone behind in games, how we get back into them and that is something we need to develop," O'Neill added.

"I'm looking forward to it [start of the next international break] because it is the longest lead in that we'll have as we play on a Saturday, so we'll have a bit longer time with the players and we can build into the second game."

Peacock-Farrell must 'put mistakes behind him'

Peacock-Farrell was dropped for Birmingham's game against Huddersfield after his mistake led to Peterborough's opening goal in a 3-2 win for the Blues

O'Neill reiterated his belief in goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell after a difficult spell for club and country that has drawn criticism online.

Peacock-Farrell was at fault for Bulgaria's goal in Plovdiv in September and was dropped for his Birmingham City's game against Huddersfield at the weekend after a mistake against Peterborough led to their opening goal in what proved to be a 3-2 win for the Blues.

"There's not a lot I can say to him other than to put it behind him, Bailey hasn't made too many of those mistakes for Northern Ireland that have cost us a goal.

"He has had a tricky enough start to his career at Birmingham, but this is a test, and he has to play through this period," O'Neill continued.

"He has proven himself to be a good goalkeeper, you don't become a bad goalkeeper overnight and I have no doubt he will be fine."