Northern Ireland 1-1 Montenegro (3-1 agg): 'Job done' but we can improve - Oxtoby
Last updated on .From the section Northern Ireland
Tanya Oxtoby says Northern Ireland's 3-1 Nations League play-off aggregate win over Montenegro is "job done" but her side can improve.
After a 2-0 win in Podgorica on Friday, Northern Ireland struggled at Windsor Park and were held to a 1-1 draw.
The result, though, meant they will remain in League B of the Nations League.
"Our aim was always to stay in this group, so from that perspective it's job done," said Oxtoby.
Medina Desic headed Montenegro into a shock lead in Belfast, before Simone Magill levelled.
"There are learnings from tonight and we'll take those and we will continue to develop and grow in our journey," added Oxtoby.
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After dominating the first leg in Montenegro, many expected a similar performance from Northern Ireland at Windsor Park but the visitors - ranked 42 places below Oxtoby's side - improved and created a number of chances.
They took the lead on 66 minutes when striker Desic headed home from a corner and that goal sparked Northern Ireland into life, and the hosts responded when Magill finished from close range seven minutes later.
"I think we got drawn into a transitional game, which is not what we wanted," added Australian Oxtoby.
"From our perspective, we wanted to be able to control it a bit more. We still created a load of chances and probably could have been a bit more clinical but, for me, it is the control within the game that we need to learn from.
"We started slow and had to try and claw our way back into it. I thought the changes we made helped with that.
"Like I said, we needed just a little bit more composure and control in that with the ball, then we don't get ourselves into a transitional situation going both ways and the game gets stretched."
Oxtoby was appointed in August and her first Nations League campaign, although inconsistent, saw improvements as the competition progressed.
Her team will now be in League B for Euro 2025 qualifying, which begins in April.
"Every game I've been in charge has been a competitive game," Oxtoby added.
"I haven't had a friendly yet. We're on a journey and we're continually learning.
"That was another good example of that. We'll go and analyse it and see where we are at."
