Heimir Hallgrimsson pleased for ‘fantastic’ Matt Doherty after win in Bulgaria

Heimir Hallgrimsson singled out “fantastic” match-winner Matt Doherty for special praise after the Republic of Ireland battled back to beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Nations League play-off.

Right-back Doherty, who before the game played down talk of a rift with manager Hallgrimsson, marked his return to the starting XI by bravely heading home the decisive goal in the 42nd minute in Plovdiv.

Marin Petkov had fired the hosts into a surprise early lead at a sparsely-populated Hristo Botev Stadium before Finn Azaz quickly nodded the visitors level with his first international goal.

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