Mamardashvili saves penalty as Georgia hold Northern Ireland in Nations League

Isaac Price covers his face after failing to convert his second-half penalty. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

This game concluded with mutual irritation and a touch of chaos. It is an indicator of Northern Ireland’s progress that scoreless parity led to wincing from players, management and fans alike. Isaac Price’s 84th-minute missed opportunity from the penalty spot added to the sense of annoyance.

Michael O’Neill’s team are atop B2 after a window which, going by the players’s physical condition in the dying stages, has been exhausting. Northern Ireland and their youthful setup are a fascinating international story. They are a team on an upward curve, with standards elevated accordingly. O’Neill bemoaned “immaturity” in the second half, saying: “The disappointing thing is we have eight points instead of 10.”