GROUP THREE Slovakia 2 Northern Ireland 1: NIGEL WORTHINGTON is hoping for a touch of home comfort on Wednesday when Northern Ireland aim to get their World Cup qualifying campaign up and running.
They face the highly-rated Czech Republic on the back of a 2-1 defeat by Slovakia in Bratislava.
Worthington is looking for his side to bounce back as long as they eliminate the mistakes that cost them dearly on Saturday.
Northern Ireland were undone by two set-pieces with Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik scoring in the 46th and 70th minutes.
They pulled a goal back with nine minutes to go when Jan Durica steered the ball into his own net but that was as good as it got despite a frantic finale.
"We always seem to make the job hard for ourselves," said Northern Ireland boss Worthington.
"Now we have got to do it again. The Czechs are a very good team and we have a job on our hands but the crowd will be on our side.
"We know we will have to put in a performance if we are to get a good result from this match."
Despite the loss, Northern Ireland will go into the game with confidence having put England, Spain and Sweden to the sword in Belfast in competitive matches.
Skipper Aaron Hughes said: "We have shown in previous campaigns that at home we are good enough to play against the best.
"With the crowd behind us we have had some good nights at Windsor and hopefully there will be a few more."
Keith Gillespie is winning his fight to face the Czechs after coming off in the second half.
The Sheffield United winger, who has been troubled by an ankle injury, took a knock and looked in some discomfort.
However, his condition improved overnight with the squad flying back to Northern Ireland to prepare for the match.
Gillespie won his 82nd cap in Bratislava and his experience could prove vital in midweek.
He has developed a good partnership with David Healy, especially in home games.
Healy may have failed to improve on his remarkable record of 34 goals in 65 games but he looked sharp.
That will surely give Northern Ireland heart going in the meeting with the Czech Republic.
They almost salvaged something from the match against Slovakia only for goalkeeper Stefan Senecky to make two superb saves in the dying moments.
Substitute Warren Feeney almost equalised on the stroke of full time only for Senecky to claw the shot over the bar.
Then he made another breathtaking stop, smothering George McCartney's effort.
"That was more like us in the last 15-20 minutes. We had them on the back foot and they seemed to have gone a bit," Worthington added.
"However the goalkeeper made two glorious saves and the overall feeling is one of frustration.
"It is a game we should have got something from but through ill-discipline on set plays we have paid a heavy price and lost the game.
"That is the frustrating thing. To concede two goals like we did is very disappointing."
New Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss praised the attitude of his side for their second-half display.
He said: "It was an excellent performance - we played from the heart and gave 100 per cent.
"I knew at half-time we had to change things and we pushed more men forward.
We showed great spirit to win the match."
Meanwhile, Slovenia frustrated hosts Poland to earn a precious 1-1 draw in the other group Three tie at the Slaski Stadium.
Zlatko Dedic's first-half strike cancelled out Michal Zewlakow's opener as Slovenia came from behind to ensure both teams took a point from the clash.
