Nations League: Underwhelming Northern Ireland's woes continue after dismal 0-0 draw in Cyprus

Niall McGinn was one for four changes made by Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough

Northern Ireland's Nations League frustrations continued as a dismal 0-0 draw with Cyprus made it 12 matches without a win in the competition.

Ali McCann missed a glorious late opportunity to give them victory after fellow substitute Shayne Lavery had curled just wide.

The hosts also had good chances, with Fanos Katelaris hitting the crossbar with a 35-yard thunderbolt just before half time and Bailey Peacock-Farrell making an excellent save from Marinos Tzionis on the break.

The draw leaves both teams without a win in League C Group 2 with Northern Ireland having lost 1-0 at home to Greece on Thursday, while the Cypriots lost 2-0 against Kosovo.

Having been in charge for two years after stepping up from his role as under-21 boss, former Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough has now won just three of his 18 competitive matches in charge - and his team have failed to score in six of their last nine games.

He had called for four wins from four in this opening quadruple-header and the pressure on him and his players will now increase significantly as they travel to play Kosovo on Thursday evening, before welcoming Cyprus to Windsor Park next Sunday afternoon.

Sunday's draw in front of 600 travelling fans against a team sitting 105th in the world rankings, 51 places below Northern Ireland, made it three draws and nine defeats in 12 Nations League matches for Northern Ireland.

Both sides rue missed opportunities

Paddy Lane made his second competitive start for Northern Ireland

As against the Greeks at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland's performance improved slightly after a worryingly uninspiring first half. But once again a failure to take opportunities proved to be the team's biggest problem.

McCann's big chance came with six minutes remaining and followed fine work from substitute Conor McMenamin, the Glentoran winger who had come off the bench to make his debut having never played for any under-age international teams.

His in-swinging cross from the left was perfectly flighted and met by McCann at the back post but, from just a few yards out, his half volley went wide of the far post.

Six minutes earlier, Lavery - brought on to play in an unfamiliar role wide on the right - cut inside at pace and unleashed a left-foot curler, but he just could not get enough bend on the shot as it sailed inches wide.

However, Northern Ireland were lucky to not be behind themselves - particularly after defender Katelaris came so close with that long-distance effort.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Peacock-Farrell then came to Northern Ireland's rescue in the 63rd minute when he came off his line superbly to smother a close-range shot from Tzionis.

Another big opportunity fell the way of the hosts in the 82nd minute. After a scramble in the box, the ball dropped to Pavlos Correa but, under good pressure from McCann, he dragged his shot the wrong side of the post.

Captain Steven Davis also got back well to make a fantastic tackle to thwart Ioannis Pittas as Cyprus launched a slick counter-attack.

No improvement from Greece loss as NI flatness continues

Kyle Lafferty is still without an international goal since 2016

There was a flatness and a low-key feel to the first hour of the loss to Greece - and that continued for the majority of the first half in Larnaca despite a change of shape by Baraclough.

Having started with a 3-5-2 against the Greeks before switching to a 4-3-3 after the break, he started with 4-3-3 against Cyprus with Niall McGinn and Gavin Whyte flanking Kyle Lafferty in the front three.

With the hosts sitting deep, comfortable in possession and looking to hit their visitors on the break, Northern Ireland were only briefly able to raise the tempo of their passing to a high enough level to cause the Cypriots any harm.

They had to survive an early Pittas low curler that flashed off target and Loizos Loizou tried his luck with a half volley that was saved by Peacock-Farrell, before he got in again and pulled his shot wide.

George Saville had Northern Ireland's first opportunity in the 12th minute, but Paddy McNair's cross was just behind him and he could not connect properly. Just after the half-hour mark Saville got in Whyte's way when he was well placed.

Shea Charles had a 20-yard shot deflected wide and Paddy Lane miskicked his shot from a clever corner routine, before Whyte's shot was too weak.