Northern Ireland held

It was a much improved performance from the one at the weekend which saw the province go down in Slovakia, with Manchester United's Jonny Evans outstanding at the back.

However they had a scare on the stroke of half-time when Milan Baros got clear only to head wide of the post.

There was trouble for Northern Ireland as early as the sixth minute when Marek Jankulovski delivered a free-kick from distance. It seemed to be caught in the wind and goalkeeper Maik Taylor was happy to tip the ball over the bar.

Then Petr Cech did well to scramble the ball away in the 18th minute following a wayward header from team-mate David Rozehnal.

David Healy had made a quiet start but sprung into action in the 23rd minute. However, his chip was too ambitious and Cech was able to take it with a degree of comfort.

Baros should have put the visitors ahead just before the break but headed wide following a cross from Zdenek Grygera.

Northern Ireland began the second half brightly and Cech did well to block Warren Feeney's effort from an acute angle in the 51st minute.

Burnley striker Martin Paterson was then drafted into the action after 72 minutes when he replaced Feeney.

Six minutes later Paterson got on the end of an inswinging cross from Brunt but headed wide of the post as Worthington's men held on to secure the draw.