After dodgy training pitches before the match it was dodgy defending which ultimately undid Northern Ireland against Bulgaria.
The statistics will show that Northern Ireland almost snatched the unlikeliest of draws with a dramatic late comeback when they scored twice in the last seven minutes.
But that should not be allowed to mask what was a shocking defensive display from the Irish. They were at fault for all four of Bulgaria's goals.
Bulgaria opened the scoring with a penalty from Belakov before Mark Williams equalised with a header but further scores from Petrov (2) and Tchomakov put the home side on course for an easy win only for Stuart Elliott and David Healy (penalty) to put a better gloss on the scoreline.
BULGARIA: Zdravkov, Kishishev, Pazhin, Markov, Tchomakov, Biser Ivanov, Hristov (Svetsolav Petrov 67), Petkov (Stoilov 58), Balakov, Berbatov (Georgi Ivanov 82), Martin Petrov. Subs Not Used: Ivankov, Kirilov, Todorov, Peev. Booked: Berbatov, Tchomakov. Goals: Balakov 7 pen, Martin Petrov 17, Tchomakov 72, Martin Petrov 77.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll, Griffin, Mark Williams, Murdock, Nolan (McCarthy 90), Gillespie (Kennedy 88), Lennon (Johnson 88), Magilton, Elliott, Michael Hughes, Healy. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Gray, Ferguson, Kirk. Booked: Gillespie. Goals: Mark Williams 15, Elliott 83, Healy 90 pen.
Referee: V Hrinak (Slovakia).
