It will come as very little surprise that Group D leaders England are having a rather comfortable night away to North Macedonia.

It's 8-0 with half an hour to play.

Northern Ireland beat them 9-0 at home in November. Just saying.

Follow the live text commentary here.

Let's not sugar-coat it - that was a fairly uninspiring first 45 minutes.

Northern Ireland had a great chance from a corner in the first minute that Rachel Furness could not get on the end of, but Austria soon got on top and have been the better side for most of the half.

That said, they haven't created many opportunities and the visitors, who had manager Kenny Shiels booked early on, will be the happier side at the break.

One of those nights when the scale of the occasion seems to be smothering the match.

Image source, BBC Sport

I think that's what we could call an old-fashioned challenge from Rachel Furness there on Austrian goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

It was a dangerous cross into the box by Chloe McCarron and Furness launched herself into the keeper. Quite often the keepers get over protected in those situations, not this time though.

That one had foul written all over it.

To use a very Northern Ireland phrase - it's lashing out there in Austria. Looks like a strong enough wind, too.

Just over half an hour gone and, while Northern Ireland haven't been at their brightest, they'll be happy to get to this stage still on level terms.

Jackie Burns has made a very comfortable save from Naschenweng, just as we hear the possession stats so far are 60-40 in Austria's favour.

That's a good chance for Austria - and it's a second one of the game for Nicola Billa.

A corner fell to her on the edge of the box and it sat up nicely for her - but the wasn't able to keep her shot down and it sailed over the crossbar.

Northern Ireland are getting pressed back more and more here.

Gail Redmond
Ex-Northern Ireland international

I think the last 10 minutes have been frustrating. We knew there would be long periods where we would not have the ball, but when we do have it we are not in a good position to hit them on the counter. Austria are on top. Northern Ireland need to show a bit of grit and determination here.

Northern Ireland's women have got their own kit for the first time - revealed this week and getting its first outing tonight.

Green shorts instead of white and the badge in the middle seem to be the main talking points.

What do you think?

Image source, Press Eye

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

Northern Ireland came flying out of the traps but Austria have really grown into this one and are first to every ball.

It's not dissimilar to the pattern of the reverse fixture in Belfast, but Kenny Shiels will be eager for his team to see more of the ball and string more passes together.

After a bright start from Northern Ireland, Austria are playing their way into this match and starting to look threatening.

Sarah Zadrazil has got in down the right a few times and Nicola Billa has had a chance at the back post, firing over the bar after being unable to control a cross.

A spell of possession is just what the visitors could do with right now.

Gail Redmond
Ex-Northern Ireland international

Northern Ireland have to be careful, balls are dropping in some kind areas for Austria and that is where they are causing trouble.

First sign of danger there as the Austrians get to the by-line and pull it back.

Not sure about goalkeeper Jackie Burns' positioning, but she got away with it as the pull-back went astray.

Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels is never short of a word or two - but it looks like he has spoken out of turn from the bench as he is shown a yellow card.

This has been a solid start from the visitors.

They've set their stall out and are certainly not going to be sitting back - something we really shouldn't be surprised about given their previous tactics.

The stadium is very far from full so they haven't a big home support to worry about.

Wow.

So close early on from Northern Ireland.

A super Demi Vance corner deceives the home keeper but Rachel Furness just can't get on the end of it at the back post.

What a start that would have been.

There goes the whistle and the match is underway in Austria.

It's our usual team of Thomas Kane and former Northern Ireland international Gail Redmond on commentary duties.

Can Northern Ireland get a result? We're about to find out.

The anthems are done - decent singing from both camps, has to be said - and the pre-match formalities out of the way.

Kick-off incoming.

Did we mention how big this match is?

All four of the other teams in Group D qualifying were supposed to be in action tonight, but the Luxembourg v Latvia encounter was postponed due to snow and rescheduled for Saturday morning.

Leaders England, who have won all six of their matches so far, are currently 2-0 up North Macedonia having kicked off at 19:00 BST - that scoreline will surely go up and up.

The Northern Ireland players go through their warm-up routine in the Stadion Wiener Neustadt.

There are bound to be a few nerves - but we can see a few smiles too.

Nearly show time. Nearly there.

The BBC cameras have been in Austria this week to bring the news and views from inside the Northern Ireland camp.

Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan, midfielder Chloe McCarron and forward Rachel Furness are key players and are in no doubt about the significance of this match.

Have a watch to see what they think.

What a month April is shaping up to be for Northern Ireland defender Rebecca Holloway.

Not only does she have this mammoth World Cup qualifier double-header to look forward to, but last week also saw her complete a move from Women's Super League side Birmingham City to Racing Louisville.

The 26-year-old, who previously spent four years in the USA at university, has signed a two-year deal and told Andy Gray this week that the move was a dream come true.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images