Northern Ireland 0-0 Wales: Northern Ireland showed their stubborn side in a 0-0 friendly with Wales at Windsor Park and that augurs well for the forthcoming European Championship qualifier against high-flying Sweden.
While the match may be quickly forgotten, there were a number of positives for manager Lawrie Sanchez.
Stripped of some of their key players, crucially record scorer David Healy, they managed to keep a clean sheet against Wales.
Captain Aaron Hughes and Stephen Craigan formed a good partnership at the back to keep the visitors at bay. There were also good performances from the energetic Keith Gillespie and substitute Grant McCann.
McCann, in fact, came closest to breaking the deadlock, his shot cannoning off the bar. With Ryan Giggs ruled out with a slight muscle injury, Wales lacked inspiration. Craig Bellamy, playing as lone striker, faded after a bright opening spell.
With Northern Ireland standing 47 in the FIFA world rankings, 27 places above their opponents, there were bragging rights at stake.
But the first half especially was poor and there was little to keep the crowd warm in sub-zero temperatures.
Wales were caught on the hop after three minutes when Kyle Lafferty escaped his marker after Chris Brunt had supplied the cross.
However, Lafferty sent his effort straight at goalkeeper Danny Coyne, his Burnley team-mate.
Wales responded and Bellamy sent in a cross that proved difficult for Northern Ireland.
Michael Duff got in a wayward header that drifted past his own post. Then Brunt saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper after being released by Gillespie.
Play switched back down the other end and Bellamy set up Jason Koumas but he scuffed his shot wide of the post in the 13th minute.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor was tested five minutes later when he safely gathered a neat free-kick by Koumas.
Brunt almost made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when he raced forward and cracked in a shot Coyne did well to parry.
Lafferty got into a good position four minutes later when Brunt delivered a cross but his header was weak.
Sanchez handed goalkeeper Michael Ingham his third cap when he replaced Taylor at the break.
Coyne was tested in the 50th minute when he tipped over a hanging cross from Sammy Clingan with Lafferty threatening at the back post.
Ivan Sproule was coming more in to the game and won a corner after being released by Davis. Brunt then whipped in a shot from an acute angle that went narrowly wide of the post.
McCann almost put Northern Ireland ahead three minutes after coming on. Set up by Lafferty, he drilled a shot beyond Coyne but his effort came back off the bar.
Then Brunt rifled a powerful shot wide in the 66th minute in a good spell of pressure by the province.
Sanchez changed his attacking options in the 68th minute by bringing on Peter Thompson and Dean Shiels for Lafferty and Sproule.
Gillespie was putting in a hard shift for Northern Ireland but saw his cross find the side-netting in the 73rd minute. The crowd kept willing Northern Ireland on but they have now failed to defeat Wales in their last three games.
However, there was enough to suggest that, with their top players back, the province will prove even more difficult to beat.