Northern Ireland one point from League A as Donley and O’Neill face bans

Northern Ireland need just a point away to Hungary on Tuesday to secure promotion to Nations League A for the first time, but must tackle the decider without suspended striker Jamie Donley and manager Michael O’Neill on the touchline.

Terry Devlin’s first international goal earned a 1-0 win over Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday. At the other end, Pierce Charles made a crucial late save to preserve Northern Ireland’s fifth consecutive clean sheet.

That leaves O’Neill’s side top of Group B2, one point ahead of Hungary, with their promotion hopes in their own hands.

What Northern Ireland need for Nations League promotion

A win or draw in Budapest on Tuesday 17 November would send Northern Ireland into League A. Defeat would leave them second and facing a promotion play-off in March, as Sky Sports reports.

Hungary kept the pressure on with a 2-0 victory in Georgia earlier on Saturday. Northern Ireland responded by beating Ukraine, setting up a final match in which the hosts must win to take first place.

The sides drew 0-0 at Windsor Park in September. A repeat would be enough for Northern Ireland this time.

Our guide to what Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland need explains the wider promotion picture.

Donley and O’Neill suspended for Hungary decider

The win came at a cost. Donley was booked after protesting when captain Trai Hume suffered a head wound, earning a suspension for Tuesday.

O’Neill also received a costly yellow card and will watch the Hungary match from the stands.

Donley had earlier thought he had opened the scoring against Ukraine, only for VAR to rule his effort out for offside. His absence leaves O’Neill with a decision to make up front for the biggest match of the campaign.

Devlin delivers on his first home start

Devlin supplied the breakthrough in the 68th minute. Following a short corner, Ethan Galbraith rolled the ball into his path and the Portsmouth player struck from outside the box, leaving Anatoliy Trubin rooted to the spot.

It was his first senior international goal and came on his first start for Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Devlin told the Irish News.

The 23-year-old explained that he had scored similar goals for Portsmouth and backed himself when Ukraine gave him space to shoot. He also reflected on the progress from working part-time while playing for Dungannon to representing his country as a Championship footballer.

Five clean sheets put Northern Ireland within reach

Devlin’s goal settled the match, but Charles ensured it remained the winner.

The goalkeeper denied Danylo Sikan late on to complete Northern Ireland’s fifth straight clean sheet, their first such sequence since 2017.

They have not conceded in this Nations League campaign. That defensive record has carried them to the brink of promotion, even when goals at Windsor Park were difficult to find.

Tuesday brings a different challenge, with Hungary needing victory and Northern Ireland missing their starting striker. But the requirement is clear: one more clean sheet would take them into League A.

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