Sanchez seeks lucky strike

Keith Gillespie believes Northern Ireland have too much class for their scoring duck to continue.

The province, now managed by Lawrie Sanchez, have not registered a goal in 1,242 minutes and their dismal run stands at 14 games without a win. If they fail to score in the first half hour tonight in Belfast they will set a new world record.

But Leicester winger Gillespie, who is one of five Premiership players set to line up in tonight's home friendly against Norway, reckons they have enough calibre to halt the slide.

He said: 'The lack of goals has been a major problem for us in the last couple of years, but there is a lot of ability in the squad. If we get an early goal against Norway I think you will see the confidence grow.'

As well as Gillespie, Northern Ireland are also expected to play Newcastle's Aaron Hughes, Southampton's Chris Baird and the Birmingham pair of Maik Taylor and Damien Johnson.

Ahead of his first match since replacing Sammy McIlroy, Sanchez has made radical changes to the backroom staff. His new team consists of TV pundit Gerry Armstrong along with former Wimbledon team-mates Terry Gibson and Dave Beasant.

Sanchez believes it will take time for the changes to take effect but is confident of improvements before the World Cup qualifying campaign next season - when one of their opponents is England.

He said: 'A lot is talked about luck, and you make your own luck, but I think the team have been unlucky. In the eight (Euro 2004) qualifying games I think they hit the woodwork six times, and the luck is going to change.'