We need to ‘take care of business’ – Baraclough

Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has called on his players to “take care of business” against Greece and not let the threat of relegation from the Nations League affect them.

NI, who have suffered an interrupted build-up, must at least match Cyprus’ result against Kosovo on the same night to avoid a relegation play-off.

“When we first got together for the international window, that [relegation] That was something I talked about, that we make sure at the end of those 10 days we’re still in the same group we’re in,” Baraclough said.

“It might be the last time we’re together before the Euros. The Cyprus result [a 1-0 win over Greece on Saturday] it might have come as a surprise to some but I know this team can play, again they are a nation under construction.

“It would have been a disappointment for Greece and it means we have to come here and take care of business. It’s in our hands and if we get a win, that’s job done in that sense.”

Saturday’s 2-1 win against Kosovo at Windsor Park came after Kyle Lafferty and Conor McMenamin were dropped from the squad after videos of them emerged on social media.

In a somewhat chaotic 24 hours, it then emerged that McMenamin traveled with the national team to Greece on Sunday and it was confirmed on Monday that he will be able to play in Tuesday’s game after the Irish FA’s disciplinary committee reviewed his decision.

Greece won a tight 1-0 match when the teams met in their opening group game at Windsor Park in June, and Baraclough is looking forward to another close game.

“Gus [Poyet, the Greece manager] it was very complimentary when we played them in the summer, it was a very close game,” the former NI Under 21 coach continued.

“We both admitted that it was a game of very few chances and that they took one that was enough for them.

“I expect it to be a very close game on Tuesday night as well and hopefully we can win 1-0, and I’ll shake Gus’s hand. Close games sometimes have to be won with a moment of magic and hopefully it will be d ‘someone wearing our shirt’.

And with the outcome of the Kosovo-Cyprus game potentially affecting Northern Ireland’s future in the third tier of the Nations League, will Baraclough be keeping an eye on that scoreline as the games unfold?

“No, we will concentrate fully on our game,” he stated.

“If we take care of business, it doesn’t matter what happens in the other game. It was certainly a great result for Cyprus and I’m sure Greece will be looking to make sure they do well.”

Poyet promises that Greece will be ready for battle

Greece manager Poyet, whose side had already secured top spot in the group and promotion to League B, insisted his side will still be ready for the battle against Northern Ireland at the Georgios Stadium Kamaras.

“It’s very clear, Northern Ireland’s strengths, and we don’t expect anything different,” said the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder.

“We know the system they will play, the pressure they want to put on us, push forward and look to win all the challenges. I am very surprised that it will change.

“We can say in a nice way that we will be ready for a battle. We know that we have to compete if we are going to get a result.”