Preview: Northern Ireland vs. Azerbaijan
© PA Photos
Northern Ireland welcome Azerbaijan on Wednesday looking for their first three points of the World Cup 2014 qualification campaign.
Michael O'Neill's side currently occupy fourth spot in Group F with just two points from their first three games, while Azerbaijan sit one spot below and with one point fewer.
The home side picked up a vital point in a 1-1 draw with Portugal last month, but need to begin a winning run if they are to put themselves in the qualification picture.
Azerbaijan, meanwhile, have lost back-to-back games against Portugal and Russia, but will see this match as a chance to get their first victory on the board.
Northern Ireland will be without Jonny Evans, Grant McCann, Andrew Little and Alex Bruce for the match at Windsor Park, but the away side have no fresh injury concerns.
Recent form:
Northern Ireland: LDLDD
Azerbaijan: DWDLL
Possible lineups:
Northern Ireland: Carroll; Hughes, McGiven, Cathcart, McAuley; Baird, Davis, Evans, Brunt; Healy, Lafferty
Azerbaijan: Agayev; Abisov, Levin, Sukurov, Sadiqov; Agayev, Amirquliyev, Certoqanov, Naziri; Aliyev, Nadirov
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Michael O'Neill's side currently occupy fourth spot in Group F with just two points from their first three games, while Azerbaijan sit one spot below and with one point fewer.
The home side picked up a vital point in a 1-1 draw with Portugal last month, but need to begin a winning run if they are to put themselves in the qualification picture.
Azerbaijan, meanwhile, have lost back-to-back games against Portugal and Russia, but will see this match as a chance to get their first victory on the board.
Northern Ireland will be without Jonny Evans, Grant McCann, Andrew Little and Alex Bruce for the match at Windsor Park, but the away side have no fresh injury concerns.
Recent form:
Northern Ireland: LDLDD
Azerbaijan: DWDLL
Possible lineups:
Northern Ireland: Carroll; Hughes, McGiven, Cathcart, McAuley; Baird, Davis, Evans, Brunt; Healy, Lafferty
Azerbaijan: Agayev; Abisov, Levin, Sukurov, Sadiqov; Agayev, Amirquliyev, Certoqanov, Naziri; Aliyev, Nadirov
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Follow @sportsmole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next
