Paddy McNair charges into the area and goes down.

There are massive appeals but there's no penalty given! Referee Ricardo de Burgos was right on the spot and waved away any appeals.

John O'Neill
Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

It is still hard to tell if we are playing three of four at the back. It looks as If Brown is playing at left back, although that can be very interchangeable.

Northern Ireland's hate-hate relationship with the Nations League is well documented by this point.

In fact, their record has been so bad in their 13 matches to date they are only one of three teams yet to win a game in the competition.

The others? Iceland (who have been playing top teams from the word go) and San Marino (the less said about that the better...).

The Republic of Ireland departed that exclusive club by beating Scotland last night, and how dearly Northern Ireland could do with three points this afternoon.

Some sloppy Northern Ireland play nearly gifts Dimitris Christofian an opening. They need to be careful not to repeat the mistakes from Kosovo.

Dan Ballard flicks on a long throw but it lands in the side netting.

The big defender was heading everything on Thursday and he's started as he left off.

Jonny Evans plays a long ball over the top but it's just too far for Kyle Lafferty and Shayne Lavery.

Off we go!

That was a lovely, lovely tribute to one of Northern Ireland's greatest.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Windsor Park stands and applauds for the late, great Billy Bingham.

Northern Ireland's legendary former manager delivered such enormous joy for the nation that very few will ever forget.

Applause rings out right around this south Belfast stadium for one of its greatest ever heroes.

Lovely. Just lovely.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

The sun comes out just as the players make their way on to the pitch.

Is that a sign?

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has urged fans to aim any criticisms they have at him and not at his players - insisting they will come through their tough spell as a group.

Travelling Northern Ireland fans chanted 'cheerio' at Baraclough after Thursday night's 3-2 defeat by Kosovo.

"I think everybody gets disappointed with criticism. Everybody wants to be told they're good at something and they're doing well. It doesn't matter what age you are," said Baraclough.

"There are criticisms in all walks of life and we are in a privileged but exposed position, where it's done through the media, on the terraces or on the street. That's the nature of the business. If you don't like it you shouldn't be here.

"That's always why the senior players play a big part, to shield the younger ones, so they can go out and play their own game. If they do that, we'll be good enough to win the game.

"I said to someone the other night to put the criticism on me, not the players. The Northern Ireland fans have shown their backing for the players time and time again. I've broad enough shoulders to take it and we'll come through it as a group."

The teams are out at Windsor Park and it's time for the anthems!

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

It's been a typical Belfast weather day so far. Bit of sun, a fair bit of wind - and now it's starting to lash down here in the south of the city.

The rain starting actually coincided with the sprinklers coming on the Windsor Park pitch. You couldn't make it up.

Sweet Caroline has just come on, though, so that will take the fans' minds off the weather.

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis, who will make his 138th appearance against Cyprus, also paid a warm tribute to Bingham.

"First of all condolences to the family. I was never fortunate enough to meet him in person but obviously everybody knows the legacy he leaves behind," the Rangers midfielder said.

"What the country achieved in that period was incredible. The fans remember him very fondly for everything he did for the country and he's a sporting hero for what he did.

"In the lead-up to our success, qualifying for the Euros, you got a lot of flashbacks of previous successes of the country and that was certainly the case for us. For a nation of our size to qualify for back-to-back World Cups under his stewardship was incredible and really very inspiring.

"It was about changing the mentality, having that belief in themselves, it just shows how far that can take you, obviously with the quality they had in the squad as well."

Northern Ireland fans far and wide are paying their respects to the late great Billy Bingham by wearing a retro shirt whilst watching the game today. It was an idea launched by AONISC on Twitter and here are some of the best to feature so far.

Northern Ireland's goal scoring woes have been well documented.

Three of Northern Ireland’s last six goals scored at Windsor Park have come via own goals by the opposition, while their most recent goal on home soil was put through his own net by Lithuania’s Benas Satkus.

In fact, the last Northern Irish player to find the net at Windsor Park was Niall McGinn versus USA in March 2021.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

It's been a while since a Northern Ireland manager has gone into an international at Windsor Park under such scrutiny - and dare we say pressure? - than Ian Baraclough does this afternoon.

Jeers from a section of the travelling fans after the drab draw in Cyprus and chants of 'cheerio' from the away end to Baraclough after the deflating defeat in Kosovo.

And now on to Belfast.

The home crowd, as ever, gave the team some fine vocal backing here against Greece 10 days ago - and it will be interesting to get a sense of the crowd's tone today.

The pre-match tribute to the great Billy Bingham will be hugely emotional, for sure. And we can be almost sure it will be a passionate backing for the home team from the start of the game, but if the match does not go well early on, things could get interesting.

The team have failed to score on their last three games here. That's a stat they could do with improving on today.

BBC Sounds

You can listen live to today's game live on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster from 14:00 BST.

Jim Magilton and Tommy Wright are alongside presenter Joel Taggart, and John O'Neill is alongside Michael McNamee on commentary.

You can also listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 14:00 BST.

We asked on social media for your favourite memories of Billy Bingham and his successful teams in the 1980s.

Richard Moore on Facebook: Jimmy Hill telling viewers to bang on their neighbours wall if they weren’t watching us playing Spain in ‘82!

Michael McCartney on Facebook: Team spirit and good banter between the player's from both religions . The way it should be. Those player's still best mates today. Everything that is good about Northern Ireland.

John Soppitt on Facebook: Qualifying for the 1982 World Cup what a great night

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough has said the country's legendary manager Billy Bingham was someone that everyone adored and who will never be forgotten.

"He is a legend within Northern Irish football for what he did for the country," Baraclough said.

There will be a minute's applause to honour the former Everton manager before Northern Ireland's Nations League match against Cyprus at Windsor Park on Sunday.

Jimmy Nicholl played in both World Cups under Bingham and is now part of Baraclough's coaching staff - and the manager said he often asks Nicholl how the legendary boss would react in certain situations.

"I'm always peppering Jimmy with questions such as 'what would Billy do in this situation and what was Billy like?'," continued Baraclough, who revealed that he was in Spain on a family holiday while the World finals were hosted there in 1982.

"Jimmy is always one for a story and they are all good ones, all positive ones. Billy is somebody that everybody adored and looked up to. He will never be forgotten for his achievements, not just as manager but also for playing in the 1958 World Cup finals."