Corry Evans makes Northern Ireland debut in muddy defeat by Albania

Northern Ireland lost 1-0 to Albania in Tirana tonight . Ervin Skela scored with a curling free-kick in the 25th minute. Nigel Worthington's team struggled on an extremely muddy pitch, though they improved in the second half. Stephen Craigan hit the bar and then the post, with a header and a shot. The midfielder Corry Evans, the 19-year-old brother and clubmate of the Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who pulled out of the game with a knee problem, made his debut as a substitute. "Corry was fantastic – he showed good energy, pressed the ball and broke things up," said Worthington. "We lifted the tempo in the second half and if we want to qualify for major tournaments we have to come to places like this and get results. We will call it ring rustiness as we have not been together for a few months but this shows that there are no easy games in international football." Northern Ireland have won three of their last 22 away matches.