Ian Baraclough offered a "mixed" reaction to Northern Ireland's late win over Luxembourg on Friday night.
The friendly looked to be heading towards a drab draw before substitutes Steven Davis and Gavin Whyte scored to edge the visitors to victory.
Davis poked home from close range in the 83rd minute and Whyte added some gloss with a composed finish in the 85th minute to settle the game at the Stade de Luxembourg.
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Josh Magennis had given Northern Ireland a 16th-minute lead with a goal crafted out of nothing and finished in style, the striker bullying defender Maxime Chanot on the byline before arrowing a shot into the far corner from an acute angle.
Luxembourg were level in the 58th minute when Marvin Martins headed home from a corner, the defender free at the back post to force the ball home.
When asked for his assessment of the game, Baraclough told Sky Sports: "Mixed, really.
"We certainly weren't at our best, particularly in possession where we could have been a lot better.
"I thought we were solid enough at the back. I look back at their goal and it is frustrating to concede from a set-piece.
"But all in all defensively I thought we were solid, but we should have been better with the goal.
"Getting back into it and setting some markers in terms of what is good for us and what will make us better as a team. And also the impact of the subs as well.
"The energy and physicality of the Luxembourg players was good, and we had to match that.
"And at times when you can't get your own game going, you have to make sure you're defensively good, especially when you're away from home."
Baraclough had praise for all three goalscorers, including inspirational captain Davis who bagged his 13th international goal on his 133rd appearance for Northern Ireland.
"Steven's goal was one of our better passages of play," Baraclough said.
"The ball found its way to Niall (McGinn) and he put in a measured ball and made it difficult for the keeper, and Davo sniffed out a chance and poked it home.
"That was good play, and I wanted us to show confidence to play more like that. But there was a bit of rustiness as we haven't been together for five months, and all of a sudden you have to pick up where you left off.
"We will get better, that's for sure. But when you don't play that well and get a result, and score three goals away from home, you have to be happy with that."
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