Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has defended Niall McGinn after his misplaced pass back in the defeat to Hungary.
The Dundee winger’s pass back to Bailey Peacock-Farrell was pounced on by Roland Sallai, who scored the only goal after 56 minute as the hosts lost their first game at home in a year.
But former Motherwell boss Baraclough insists McGinn has more than enough credit in the bank for his national team to dodge the blame game.
Asked what he said to the ex-Aberdeen playmaker when he came off the pitch, Baraclough said: “Just no blame on him.
“He’s done enough for this country to be forgiven for something like that. Mistakes can happen. I say it to the players all the time – don’t be fearful of making mistakes.
“Niall’s made a mistake and it ends up in the back of the net. It happens.
“I’m disappointed to lose, first and foremost.
“I felt it was a game where we could have come away talking about a win – the chances we created, how many times we worked the goalkeeper, good chances as well.”
Baraclough, who saw an effort from Rangers midfielder Steven Davis come back off the post, added: “On the balance of play, yes they had more possession, but their chances were from outside the box.
“I think I remember Bailey making one save down to his left and that was all he had to do apart from pick the ball out of the net from a mistake of ours.
“That happens. It’s disappointing to make so many chances and not get something from the night.
“But it’s not going to burst our bubble. We can get together in June and go and do well in the Nations League.”
