Northern Ireland 1 Estonia 0: Sproule puts Hibs form to good use for Ireland

Northern Ireland found a new hero as they regained that winning mentality at Windsor Park. Ivan Sproule, 25, scored for Northern Ireland in this his third international appearance.

The Hibs player got on the end of James Quinn's header to fire a shot into the corner beyond the Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom after two minutes. Chris Brunt should have added a second in the seventh minute only to screw a shot wide from a good position.

Substitute Peter Thompson could have extended their lead in the 63rd minute, only to fire a shot straight at Poom.

Estonia should have equalised soon after only for Tarmo Neemlo to shoot over in front of the posts.

Northern Ireland: Taylor (Birmingham), Duff (Burnley), Craigan (Motherwell), McAuley (Lincoln), Capaldi (Plymouth), Sproule (Hibernian), Davis (Aston Villa), Baird (Southampton), Brunt (Sheffield Wednesday), Quinn (Peterborough), Healy (Leeds). Substitutes: Ingham (gk, Wrexham), Thompson (Linfield), Jones (Crewe) for Sproule, h-t, Murdock (Rotherham), Elliott (Hull), McCann (Cheltenham), McLean (Rangers) for Craigan, h-t, Feeney (Luton).

Estonia: Poom (Arsenal), Jaager, Stepanov (both Torpedo Moscow), Piiroja (Fredikstad), Rooba (FC Copenhagen), Rahn (Volon Lutsk), Teever (Osters), Dmitrijev (Levadia Tallinn), Neemelo (TVMK, Tallinn), Lindpere, Sidorenkov (both Flora Tallinn). Substitutes: Kotenko (gk, Levadia Tallinn), Shishov (Levadia Tallinn), Allas, Barengrub, Reim, Kuresoo, Ahjupera (all Flora Tallinn), Oper (Roda JC Kerkrade).

Referee: P Vink (Netherlands)