Sanchez defended by FA chief

Lawrie Sanchez had "personal reasons" for his no-show before the media after Northern Ireland's stunning 3-2 win over Spain at Windsor Park according to his Irish Football Association chiefs.

David Healy's hat-trick secured a remarkable Group F Euro 2008 qualifiying triumph and was the perfect response to the critics who rounded on Sanchez after a 3-0 defeat to Iceland last weekend. Sanchez refused to conduct a post-match press conference on Wednesday but IFA chief executive Howard Wells leapt to his defence.

Asked why Sanchez refused to speak to the press, Wells told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There were personal reasons. It's been a very pressurised week for Lawrie. On Wednesday he rose to the occasion and showed tremendous leadership. After the match he felt he had done his bit and I respect that. Let's focus on the things that went right."

He added: "Lawrie has done an outstanding job for us. He is contracted with us until the end of the campaign (Euro 2008) and is not under pressure from the IFA."