We can’t ask any more in terms of character – Northern Ireland’s Michael O’Neill

Michael O’Neill praised the character of his young Northern Ireland team after they hung on for a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland despite playing the final half an hour with 10 men in Belfast.

Isaac Price fired Northern Ireland in front in the 36th minute, but then had to make a goal-line clearance to deny Andri Gudjohnsen in the second half as O’Neill’s side came under pressure following the sending-off of Brodie Spencer.

That dismissal changed the game completely, but O’Neill was proud of the way his players responded as Northern Ireland won a match they finished with 10 men for the first time since their famous win over Spain in 1982.

“We didn’t start the game well, we gave the ball away a lot,” O’Neill said. “They pressed us and we didn’t deal with that as well as we could…

“We struggled to get pressure on the ball, but really they didn’t cause us any threat either. It’s frustrating when you’re at home that you’re not having a bit more of a foothold and dominance.

“But we’re going to have to play like that so I think this team, they’ve got a strong character and desire when things are going against them to stay in the game…

“There’s a lot of things we can do better, but in terms of character, we can’t ask any more. In terms of defending as a team and as a unit without the ball, I thought we were excellent.”

Spencer was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after tangling with Iceland skipper Hakon Haraldsson as he tried to break into the box, a decision which infuriated the Northern Ireland players as they surrounded referee Morten Krogh, and frustrated O’Neill.

Isaac Price’s goal makes him the youngest player to score 9 goals for Northern Ireland at 21 years 257 days