Latest news with #TanyaOxtoby
BBC News
16 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
NI 'have to bounce back' against Bosnia
Northern Ireland midfielder Joely Andrews said that her side "have to bounce back" against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday after their disappointing Women's Nations League defeat against Seaview on Friday night Tanya Oxtoby's side suffered a 4-0 loss against Poland, who secured automatic promotion to League A with the win in north are second in the group and will secure that spot and a place in the promotion play-offs if they avoid defeat in Zenica on Tuesday, which Andrews says has to be their aim."If we finish a place higher in this group [NI finished third in their previous Nations League campaign] it will be progress," she said."We are looking for a good performance and ultimately to get three points on Tuesday."Us and Bosnia know each other inside out, we've played each other a few times so it will be tough, but we need to be hard to break down but good on the ball and create chances."The Hearts midfielder added that while Friday night's defeat at Seaview "hurt", their spirited end to the game when they almost scored a consolation goal will give them confidence as they move onto Tuesday's crucial game."We weren't good enough in the first half and there were bits of the game plan we didn't execute but as players we take responsibility for that," she continued."The positive thing is in the second half we got a bit more control and we could create some more chances."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'We get smacked in the face and rebound'
"We get smacked in the face a little bit and rebound really well."Head coach Tanya Oxtoby perfectly summed up Northern Ireland's Nations League campaign after Friday's 4-0 home defeat by Poland. Looking at their five games so far, two things stand out: errors and fails to exist without the other and while the former has plagued them and cost them in quite a few games, the latter has offered hope for the at errors first; the two goals conceded in defeat in Gdansk in their first game were the win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Emina Ekic's solo run and finish came after the Northern Ireland defence stood off less said about Mihaela Ciolacu's equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Romania the better, as she had an easy finish after Ellie Mason and Rachel Dugdale left the clearance to each other and both missed on Friday night, the clinical Ewa Pajor burst between two defenders to prod home the opener, Jackie Burns gifted her a second and Northern Ireland failed to clear their lines to allow Paulina Tomasiak to score a third before Oxtoby's side have shown an ability to react to didn't crumble in Gdansk, they fought back to beat Bosnia and after the frustration in Bucharest, they produced their best display of the campaign to beat Romania 1-0 at hopes her side can once again dip into their reserves of resilience in Tuesday's crucial game against Bosnia in Zenica, where a win would hand NI a promotion play-off place."I don't have any doubt in my mind we'll perform on Tuesday," she said. 'They're not all the same mistakes' The Australian was keen not to dwell too much on the theme of errors throughout the campaign as "they're not all the same mistakes"."It's hard to lob them all into one category, there are individual errors and there are group errors the whole campaign, it's about learning from them," she of the issues for the manager that may be a cause of the high volume of mistakes is an unsettled backline, with chopping and changing occurring in all five games so Rafferty has missed the last three games through injury, her absence keenly felt in the heart of defence, with Oxtoby conceding the Rangers defender is "50-50" to be fit for the game in a dearth of natural centre-backs to fit her system, Nadene Caldwell has played there recently, although naturally a midfielder, whilst Linfield youngster Abi Sweetlove was given her debut at Seaview against Poland, but like the rest of the defence, she struggled against Pajor, who scored two and set up the other two goals. Northern Ireland must 'park' Poland defeat After the dissection of Friday night's mistakes, focus will quickly turn to Tuesday in Zenica, where a win would help Northern Ireland finish second and secure that all important play-off place and mark an improvement on their last Nations League Simone Magill said NI are "hurting" after the Poland loss, but she repeatedly spoke of the need to "park" the result."We were very clear at the start of this campaign about what we wanted to go after, and that's still very much in our hands," she said. "Despite Friday's result that doesn't change for us. We have been on quite a journey, and this is where we want to be. "We want to be back in the mix competing off the back of the last Euros, we didn't want that to be a one off and if we get the result we want, we are right back in the mix."
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
We caused problems for ourselves
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby admits her side "caused problems for ourselves" in Friday's 4-0 defeat by Poland in the Nations striker Ewa Pajor scored twice in the opening 10 minutes as Poland secured an immediate return to League A. Pajor then provided assists for Paulina Tomasiak and Adriana Achcinska, which means Northern Ireland will now face off with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday for the promotion play-off spot. "The plan wasn't executed as we would have liked," said Australian Oxtoby of Northern Ireland's poor start. "The spaces were there we wanted to exploit but we were sloppy with the ball. "We caused problems for ourselves, we addressed that at half-time and changed our shape to try and help in that area."Oxtoby added that "it's not one single thing" behind the performance and result, but the "players know we can be better".Despite the defeat, Northern Ireland's hopes of winning promotion to League A for the first time are still in their hands. Second place secures a play-off spot against a League A side, and Northern Ireland are currently three points ahead of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Teams on level points are split by their head-to-head ranking, so even if NI fall to defeat in Zenica they could still hold onto second ahead of the Bosnians thanks to February's dramatic 3-2 win in Larne. "We were disappointed with the first half, that goes without saying," added Oxtoby."We tweaked some things at half time and the second-half performance was better. "We managed to get Abi (Sweetlove) and Aimee (Kerr) on the pitch for their senior debuts, so there's some real positives but we've now got to focus on the Bosnia game. "It's a crucial one for us. The players know that we can be better and I've got full belief that we'll go on Tuesday and put in a really good performance."
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Rangers defender ruled out of Northern Ireland's Nations League clash with Poland
The Rangers Women defender sat out the team's final training session ahead of the Seaview battle and hasn't recovered in time to be included in the matchday panel. Rafferty had come into the international break on a high after helping Rangers win the Scottish Cup last weekend and had been excited to carry the momentum of a hugely enjoyable first season with the Scottish giants onto the international stage, but she will now miss the first match of the double header while also being a doubt for next Tuesday's final game of the campaign away to Bosnia & Herzegovina. The 29-year-old was also forced out of the home and away games against Romania in April through injury and her absence leaves manager Tanya Oxtoby short of experienced cover in the defence ahead of one of the biggest games Northern Ireland have faced since the Women's Euro 2022. Northern Ireland sit three points behind Poland in the group table and are seeking a victory to take the fight for promotion into Nations League A into Tuesday's last round of matches. After losing 2-0 in Gdansk back in February Northern Ireland require a win by three goals in order to overtake the Poles on head-to-head record. Poland, who enter the match on the back of seven wins in their last eight games, have confirmed that Barcelona star Ewa Pajor is fit an available after the disappointment of losing to Arsenal in last weekend's Women's Champions League Final.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
NI 'in control of own destiny' - but can they take next step?
Nations League Group B1: Northern Ireland v PolandVenue: Seaview, Belfast Date: Friday, 30 May Kick-off: 19:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and follow live text commentary & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website At times, it feels like Northern Ireland are destined to remain in League B of the Nations League. Tanya Oxtoby's side have been there for three iterations of the competition and Euro qualifying, and while they are too good for League C, the top tier has always been just out of they have the chance to reach the promised land, but to do so they will need to deliver the biggest victory of Oxtoby's Ireland sit second in Group 1, three points behind leaders Poland, who travel to Belfast on Friday night. The Poles won the opening game between the sides, but if Oxtoby's side can pull off an upset they would be in a strong position heading into the final round of matches. If Northern Ireland lose to Poland on Friday, and Bosnia-Herzegovina defeat Romania, then it will come down to a final game shootout between the sides for the promotion play-off spot. As things stand in League A, possible play-off opponents could include the likes of Austria, Denmark, Portugal and no matter what happens against Poland, NI's League A hopes are in their own hands. "It's what we wanted. We wanted to be in this position heading into the final two games where we can control our own destiny," Oxtoby told BBC Sport NI."It's a real credit to this group of staff and players where we are in a position where we could do something special and top the group. Our destiny is in our own hands."We just need to take it one game at a time and focus on our performance." 'We can cause them problems' Northern Ireland fell to a 2-0 defeat in Poland in their Nations League opener after a quickfire double for the hosts. That was followed by a dramatic 3-2 win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, before a draw with Romania was followed by a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture. The opening 45 minutes of the win over Romania featured some of the best football Northern Ireland have played under Oxtoby, and a free-flowing move led to teenager Kascie Weir netting the decisive goal. Oxtoby said the key to a positive result against Poland will be "concentration", and it will be a challenge against a "really good team"."We have come a long way since that game and we were disappointed of elements of it. "They are fairly consistent and good at what they do. We know they are going to come here and cause us problems in certain areas. "We will hope to cause them problems in return. It will be a great challenge for our young group." After a number of matches at Windsor Park and Inver Park, Northern Ireland will return to Seaview for the first time since October Belfast venue was a cornerstone of their successful Euro 2022 qualification campaign, but they haven't played there since drawing with Hungary in the inaugural Nations said they want to make the venue a "fortress" and the compact ground can help them cause Poland "some problems"."We want to make it uncomfortable for Poland, that would be the ideal. "We had a conversation before training about having a conversation about how good they can be, and I think they are now starting to see that." Christiansen involvement 'a luxury' To help her young squad, Oxtoby has brought former England international Izzy Christiansen into her coaching set up."We know the quality that Izzy had as a player, and she is a brilliant coach as well," said Oxtoby."To have a female who has done so much in the game and is also brilliant on the grass, it's priceless for this group and the girls are really lapping it up."Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill played alongside Christiansen at Everton, and said it was "great" to have her in working with the youthful squad."I know her well. I think she set me up for a good few of my Everton goals too," said Magill, who now plays for Birmingham City. "She has been there and done it all, to be able to ask her questions and pick her brains is a real luxury for us to have. "It's one that all the girls have been desperate to use as well. That's fantastic."
