Michael O'Neill optimistic despite defeat

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has said that his players gave everything in their defeat against Romania.

Having won their first three games in Euro 2016 qualifying, the Irish were beaten 2-0 in Bucharest, but O'Neill revealed that he was pleased by his side's efforts.

"I think we know we can play better than that, but tonight we came up against a really good side, we defended fantastically well, we could have done better with our chances on the counter-attack, and we came within 15 minutes of getting a fantastic result," he told Sky Sports News. "I couldn't ask for much more from them.

"To be sitting on nine points is testament to the work rate of this group of players. There is an opportunity for us to get 15 more points, and if we can get close to that we'll give ourselves a great chance."

Ireland are currently second in Group F, with nine points from their first four matches.