Gritty hosts should cut loose and boost their goal difference

World Cup qualifier
Sky Sports 5, 7.45pm

Northern Ireland have become adept at grinding out results against strong opposition but tonight they must try and adopt a more cavalier approach when taking on the Group C whipping boys San Marino at Windsor Park.

Three points look a near-certainty for Michael O’Neill’s side, who are 1-33 to beat the continent’s third-lowest ranked team (only Andorra and Gibraltar are lower on Fifa’s list).