Northern Ireland 0 Austria 1: Hosts suffer narrow defeat as 600 fans get chance to watch heroes

NORTHERN IRELAND’S reunion with the fans fell flat as fatigue caught up with them.

Around 600 socially-distanced supporters were allowed into Windsor Park as a coronavirus trial run but were rewarded with a below par performance.

Even worse, those who got in last night are now ineligible for a ticket to next month’s Euro 2021 play-off final.

A first half goal sunk leggy Northern Ireland just 72 hours after the heroic penalty shootout win in Bosnia which came after extra time and which sets up the big clash against Slovakia.

Despite boss Ian Baraclough making five changes to the starting line up, they were always second best against the Austrians and they remain bottom of Nations League group B1 with just one point.

And they travel to group leaders Norway on Tuesday where formidable striker Erik Haaland awaits.

Austria’s winner three minutes before the break was hardly surprising given their domination of the ball and the attacking threat.

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, a two-times Champions League winner, had the left flank sewn up and it was from there that the visitors took the lead.

Alaba chased to the byline then cut the ball back inside for Martin Hinteregger to whip in a cross.

Leicester Defender Jonny Evans, normally a reliable figure at the back and who had earlier rescued Northern Ireland with a last ditch block, failed to jump.

It left Austria’s 6ft 4in striker Michael Gregoritsch time and space to guide the ball into the bottom corner with his head from six yards out.

Northern Ireland came from a goal down last week to grab the draw and then ultimate victory in Bosnia.

But tiredness caught up with them last night and despite a fightback in which sub Liam Boyce came within inches of grabbing an equaliser in injury time Northern Ireland have now lost two of their three Nations League games.