Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Tuesday, 27 February Kick-off: 19:00 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website |
Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby says she does not need to motivate her side for the Nations League play-off second leg with Montenegro.
Lauren Wade and Demi Vance scored as Northern Ireland ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in the first leg on Friday.
The second leg takes place at Windsor Park on Tuesday as NI look to retain their place in League B, which will form qualifying for Euro 2025.
“It’s a new game for us and we are going out to win it,” Oxtoby said.
In the first leg on Friday in Montenegro’s capital, Northern Ireland dominated the hosts but had to wait until the 70th minute for the opener when Wade headed home.
Vance added a second in injury-time to give Oxtoby’s side a buffer heading into the second leg at Windsor Park.
Key defender Sarah McFadden trained on Monday after picking up a knock in the first leg and will be assessed the morning of the match, but Oxtoby said “it’s looking good”.
However, forward Emily Wilson is a doubt and teenager Naomi McLaughlin trained with the senior team for the first time.
Australian Oxtoby added Friday’s performance was “really positive but I always want more”.
“With and without the ball, we dominated and that is what I asked for,” she said.
“It’s easy in games like that to go away from what you are trying to do and panic a little bit, but we didn’t do that and we continued to try and play.
“We’re really pleased but we want to build on that. The players are up for it and they are keen. We’ve been talking all window that it is about us and making sure we are continuing to develop on our journey.
“They want to be better, they want to keep growing and they want to keep learning.”
‘Football is for all’
There will be a moment of significance at Windsor Park on Tuesday as Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly and GAA president Jarlath Burns will attend the match.
Sinn Fein’s O’Neill committed to attend a Northern Ireland match at Windsor Park after taking up the post of first minister earlier this month.
It will be the first public engagement for Burns after he was elected to the post of GAA president.
“I think it is amazing that our Executive is finally back together,” said captain Marissa Callaghan.
“Football is for all and it’s great to have everyone here and hopefully we will have more and more to watch us.”
Cliftonville midfielder Callaghan added that she was pleased with Northern Ireland’s performance in Podgorica but the team can still improve.
“We will really be on it and we will look at our strengths,” Callaghan added.
“We will go with a lot of tempo. I think we were a bit slow at times in the build-up, and I think you will see a really good Northern Ireland team.
“I think the tempo, speed of play and speed of passes. I thin the tempo will be good tomorrow night and it will be a really good game.
“It’s a massive game for us, both individually and collectively. I spoke before about it being a cup final and it is half-time now.
“The girls are focused on going out and playing really well and getting a positive result.”