O'NEILL: I'LL NOT SAY IT'S A MUST-WIN

MICHAEL O'NEILL refused to call tonight's World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia a must-win but said his Northern Ireland players fully realise the importance of a good result.

- BY IAN PARKER

After taking three points from September's away doubleheader with a win in Luxembourg and defeat to Germany in Cologne, O'Neill's men now face back-to-back games at Windsor Park with the Germans in town on Monday.

These games can make or break their Group A campaign, most obviously tonight's game against a nation Northern Ireland were expected to be fighting for second place but who travel to Belfast top of the group after beating Germany 2-0 in their opening game last month.

"I wouldn't say [it's must-win] necessarily," said O'Neill, above.