5 talking points as Northern Ireland look for back-to-back wins

Northern Ireland will continue their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign when Slovenia visit Windsor Park on Tuesday night.

Here, Football Mad looks at the key talking points ahead of the game.

Momentum

Saturday’s 3-0 win over San Marino was a baby step for Michael O’Neill’s struggling Northern Ireland side but having finally ended a five-game losing streak they will be desperate to build on that and give their fans something to cheer at home. Saturday was only Northern Ireland’s third win in 18 at Windsor Park, where home form was once so key to their hopes in qualifying. As they begin to look ahead to future campaigns, the need to rebuild the fortress is obvious.

Injury concerns

O’Neill offered up only one bit of team news in Monday’s press conference but it was potentially a hugely significant one as defender Daniel Ballard is suffering with tightness in his thigh. With Paddy McNair suspended after his late booking on Saturday, O’Neill has limited options at the back if Ballard is missing, which might mean Shea Charles dropping back, Trai Hume moving inside or see Eoin Toal handed a challenging debut.

A different challenge

A win was the only acceptable result against a San Marino side ranked 207th and last in the world, but Slovenia represent a very different challenge. Matjaz Kek’s side would have been one Northern Ireland hoped to get the better of at the start of the campaign but they come to Belfast as the leaders in Group H and challenging for a place at next summer’s finals.

Defensive test

When looking back on Northern Ireland’s qualifying run to date, the defeat in Ljubljana stands out and not in a good way. This campaign has seen them suffer four 1-0 defeats – close games in which they had a chance to take something right until the end. The exception, bar the victories over San Marino, was the 4-2 defeat in Ljubljana, where they struggled to contain Slovenia’s exciting front pair of Benjamin Sesko and Andraz Sporar. Even if Northern Ireland’s defence was at full strength, handling Sesko and company would be a real test.

Casement protests

Saturday’s match at Windsor Park was marked by persistent chanting from a number of fans opposed to the building of Casement Park, the GAA stadium in south west Belfast which is due to host games at Euro 2028. Even if a project bogged down by delays and questions over funding is completed in time, many Northern Ireland fans have said they will never attend a match at a venue named after an Irish revolutionary and located in predominantly nationalist west Belfast. O’Neill has said he wants fans to get behind the project but added that he respects all opinions. Expect them to be heard again.