Pat Jennings text Steven Davis before kick off to congratulate the Northern
Ireland captain on
BREAKING his record of 119 international appearances. Another upbeat message may well follow from the legendary goalkeeper after Davis’ 120th cap, and 120 absorbing minutes against Bosnia-Herzegovina, produced a night to savour in Sarajevo for Ian Baraclough’s determined team.
The dream of a second successive appearance at the European Championships remains alive for
Northern Ireland following a penalty shoot-out victory over Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and company. Bailey Peacock-Farrell, the Burnley keeper who made several important interventions in normal time, is also due congratulations from Jennings after he made the only save of the shoot-out from Haris Hajradinovic. When Edin Visca struck his penalty against the crossbar the visitors’ excitement rose, but so did George Saville’s next spot-kick, high into the Bosnian sky. Enter Conor
Washington and Liam Boyce and the astute influence of Baraclough in only his third game in charge of Northern Ireland, one that would have been played under Michael O’Neill had the match been held as scheduled seven months ago.