McGinn mistake helps Hungary edge out Northern Ireland

Hungary capitalised on a mistake from Niall McGinn to edge out Northern Ireland 1-0 at Windsor Park.

Dundee winger McGinn undersold Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a back-pass, allowing Roland Sallai to nip in and score with 56 minutes gone.

Up until that point Northern Ireland had looked the more dangerous side with captain Steven Davis hitting the outside of the post and McGinn himself going close, but they could not find a response as Hungary goalkeeper Denes Dibusz made a flurry of saves in a frantic finish.

Even so, this was arguably a better performance than the one that brought victory over Luxembourg on Friday, with Northern Ireland proving a decent match for a side bound for Nations League A - and a group shared by England, Italy and Germany - this summer.

Ian Baraclough had promised to freshen things up after last week's 3-1 win - a scoreline which flattered Northern Ireland - and made nine changes.

Fleetwood winger Paddy Lane was handed a debut at left wing-back, while two of Friday's goalscorers - Davis and Gavin Whyte - came into the starting XI along with the likes of Paddy McNair, Dan Ballard, and Ali McCann.

Davis scored his 13th international goal at the Stade de Luxembourg to move joint-third all time for Northern Ireland, and almost made it 14 with 11 minutes gone when he latched on to a mis-placed pass from Zsolt Nagy and bent a shot onto the outside of the far post.

Hungary again had more of the ball but Peacock-Farrell, back in the Northern Ireland side after staying with Sheffield Wednesday over the weekend, had little to do in the first half.

Sallai sent one shot harmlessly wide from a tight angle then, teed up by the lively Loic Nego, fired straight at Peacock-Farrell.

Instead it was the hosts who again went