Tanya Oxtoby admits Northern Ireland’s slow starts against Hungary are “frustrating” but she is pleased with the direction her team are moving in.
After their narrow 3-2 defeat in Hungary on Friday, NI drew 1-1 with the same opposition in the Nations League.
Oxtoby’s side upped their game when Hungary hit their opening goal after a sluggish start in both matches.
“You can see in our players, when the opposition score a goal we sort of wake up,” she said.
“We started slowly and grew into the game. I thought the changes we made injected some energy and some organisation, but we can’t afford to start games like that.
“That is something we need to address. Part of it for me is a mental thing. It’s about being really switched on when we come out.
“Some of it is confidence as well. We are on a journey and sometimes you have to have a bit of patience with certain things, but the ability to make sure you are really clear on your role and responsibilities is something we need to make sure the players feel when they come out.”
After the heartbreak of the last-minute defeat in the reverse fixture, Oxtoby had spoken about trying to put things right at Seaview, a ground Northern Ireland had not lost a competitive match at since 2019.
Northern Ireland struggled to create many openings as Hungary edged a goalless first half, but the visitors took the lead on 56 minutes when Dora Zeller’s corner evaded everyone in the six-yard box and landed in the far corner.
It was a disappointing goal to concede for a team who, traditionally, have been solid at defending set pieces but leaking goals from them has been a theme under Oxtoby and was the team’s down fall in Hungary.
“You look at the goals across both games, they are disappointing. The positive of that is that they are very fixable,” added the Australian.
“We need to make sure we are better in those areas because three of the four goals are probably really preventable across both games.
“I’m just as disappointed as the players are. They know that we need to be better. It is something that we want to address and want to fix. At this point is it about reflecting now and taking the time between camps to reflect and think about how best to do that.”
Maxwell steps up to rescue point for NI
When it looked like their fortress at Seaview would be breached, Cliftonville winger Danielle Maxwell stepped up to fire in her first international goal and rescue a point for the hosts.
The 21-year-old was only drafted into the squad after the withdrawal of Kirsty McGuinness but started both matches and, in her equaliser, showcased both her talent and confidence.
“What a goal,” said Oxtoby. “She has been brilliant on and off the pitch for us.
“We always say that the door is open for everyone and when you walk in, make sure you grab it with both hands.
“She has certainly done that across these two games.”
After being named as manager in July, Oxtoby has reached the end of her second round of fixtures as manager and, despite one win and a draw from her four matches, she is optimistic the team is heading in the right direction.
“I’ve just said it to them there. When you, from a strategy point of view, apply what we are asking you to do and you do it consistently in the second half, then you give yourself every opportunity,” she added.
“It’s the consistency for me. They all nodded their head, they know that is where we want to get to, where for 90 minutes we can execute what we are asking the players to do.
“At the minute we kind of flux in and out of that. We need to continue to grow in that area.”
Northern Ireland are back in action in December’s window with a trip to Albania and a final match at home to the Republic of Ireland, who have already topped Group B1 with four wins from four matches.
After the draw at Seaview, Hungary are one point ahead of Northern Ireland in the promotion play-off spot in second place.
With limited time with players due to the nature of the international windows, the former Chelsea assistant manager knows she has to make the most of the time she gets with the squad and, despite her ambitions, she admits she has to show a bit of patience as she gets her ideas across.
“When we look at our flexibility in a game we have progressed massively,” she said. “I think the decision making is still the piece that we need to continue to develop.
“That’s the bit that takes time, which can, as a coach, be a little frustrating. You have to be patient with it, because players are going to make mistakes in order to learn and make better decisions.
“I can see there are massive improvements, but we need to be better in both boxes, there is no doubt about it.
“But there has been growth across both windows for us.”
