Summary

  • Group H: Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland (FT)

  1. Postpublished at 20:01 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland Conor McMenamin has started this match brightly and almost latches on to a long ball over the top from goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

    He's enjoying the starting place handed to him by Michael O'Neill.

  2. Postpublished at 19:59 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland

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

    It's the fastest start to an international game I have seen in quite a while!

  3. Postpublished at 19:59 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland have more than found their feet in this game.

    Winger Matty Kennedy steps up and curls a free-kick from the edge of the box just wide of the post.

    More like it from Michael O'Neill's men.

  4. Postpublished at 19:57 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland

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

    We're back to square one and we can breathe again!

    That shows you what a great player Shea Charles is and can be.

    McMenamin deserves his place in the team and he's carried on where he's left off every time he's played for Northern Ireland and he's exciting to watch.

  5. Postpublished at 19:56 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI in Ljubljana

    Well, well, well.

    What a response that was!

    Conor McMenamin was at the heart of it and Isaac Price kept his cool to poke home!

    Northern Ireland's Isaac Price celebrates his equaliser against SloveniaImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland's Isaac Price celebrates his equaliser against Slovenia

  6. goal

    GOAL - Slovenia 1-1 Northern Irelandpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Isaac Price 6 mins

    That's what you call a response as Isaac Price equalises for Northern Ireland three minutes after they fell behind.

    Conor McMenamin was given space on the right and delivered a beautiful low pass with the outside of his left foot that was met by the sliding Matty Kennedy.

    His shot was saved by Jan Oblak but Price was alert to fire home the rebound for his first senior international goal.

    Game on again!

    Goal - Northern IrelandImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Goal - Northern Ireland

  7. Postpublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-0 Northern Ireland

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI in Ljubljana

    That's an absolute disaster, no other words for it.

    Jonny Evans is asking for offside but Sporar looked on from where we were sitting and it's no surprise that it's given.

    What can Northern Ireland do in response?

  8. 'Sums this campaign up'published at 19:51 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 1-0 Northern Ireland

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

    Sums this campaign up and to be fair, there is less than three minutes on the clock gone and they've started terribly.

    We missed every challenge in midfield and a white shirt won it.

    He's miles onside and we just got caught sleeping. We've hardly had a pass on the ball and they've scored.

  9. goal

    GOAL - Slovenia 1-0 Northern Irelandpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Andraž Šporar 3 mins

    Disastrous start for Northern Ireland as Andraž Šporar goes through and opens the scoring for the hosts in the third minute.

    He ran on to a lovely through ball and showed superb composure to calmly side-foot past Bailey Peacock-Farrell to find the bottom corner.

    Northern Ireland's dismal campaign goes from bad to worse.

    Goal - SloveniaImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Goal - Slovenia

  10. Postpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 0-0 Northern Ireland

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

    The pitch looks awful. It is rough, particularly the goalmouth that Bailey Peacock-Farrell is in for the first half.

  11. Postpublished at 19:46 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia 0-0 Northern Ireland

    The match is underway in the Stadion Stozice in Slovenia.

    Can Northern Ireland end their losing streak?

  12. Postpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    The two managers embrace as we edge ever closer to kick-off.

    Which boss will be happiest come full-time?

    The referee for tonight is Marco Guida of Italy.

  13. Postpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

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

    I'm glad to see McMenamin start, I think he deserves a start. He has been impressive any time he's come on. The big theme of the press conference was emphasis on players playing for their club and bar Jonny Evans everyone is.

  14. Hungry for another Budapest momentpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Remember Budapest in September 2014, Northern Ireland fans?

    Manager Michael O'Neill was reflecting on how an against-the-odds victory over Hungary helped kickstart what became a glorious run to Euro 2016 qualification.

    While reaching next summer's finals in Germany may be a stretch at this stage, O'Neill would love another September away win tonight to ignite a campaign that is yet to catch fire.

    Read more.

    Kyle LaffertyImage source, Press Eye
    Image caption,

    Kyle Lafferty scored a late winner away to Hungary in September 2014

  15. Here come the anthemspublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Just a few moments until kick-off now, folks.

  16. NI 'need a win'published at 19:40 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Keith Gillespie
    Former Northern Ireland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

    We need a win tonight. Normally you go to a country like this and you think a draw would do but we need a win tonight to stay in the group, simple as that.

  17. 'It's hard to put into words'published at 19:39 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Jonny Evans' return to Manchester United was one of the most eye-catching transfers of the summer.

    Yesterday in Ljubljana, the 35-year-old Northern Ireland defender spoke to BBC Sport about how it felt making his second debut in Sunday's defeat by Arsenal.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Evans' United return 'hard to put into words'

  18. 'I'll take a draw'published at 19:38 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI in Ljubljana

    Tim has travelled to Slovenia from Ballymena and says he is loving Ljubljana so far.

    He admits tonight will be "a difficult one" but he's optimistic of a positive result.

    "It's been a bit of a struggle at the minute with availability and injuries," he said.

    "We can't be greedy. We'll take a point, to be honest.

    "I think we are probably looking to get as much experience for the next campaign at this point.

    "You never know, if you get one result it can bring a couple more but, realistically, we are probably looking at the World Cup campaign."

    Tim Scott
  19. As things stands in Group Hpublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    It doesn't make great reading for Northern Ireland fans, but here is a recap of how the Group H table looks ahead of kick-off.

    Euro 2024 qualifiers - Group HImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Euro 2024 qualifiers - Group H

  20. Cathcart is Belgium-boundpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 7 September 2023

    Slovenia v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    It's been a busy few days for Craig Cathcart.

    While preparing for Northern Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifier in Slovenia tonight, the experienced defender has also sealed a move to top-flight club KV Kortrijk.

    The 34-year-old has signed a one-year contract following his release by Watford at the end of last season.

    Read more.

    Craig CathcartImage source, Getty Images