Northern Ireland dominated the first half, but fatigue set in after their long 5,000‑mile journey to Tbilisi.
Nevertheless, they failed to generate clear chances. Opta recorded an expected‑goals (xG) total of 0.55 on Monday night, the lowest for a Nations League match since September 2022.
Record goalscorer David Healy noted the team’s limited threat from set pieces, as Balazs Toth comfortably collected several corners, and the opposition’s presence in the box was under‑utilized.
Healy remarked that the set pieces were very poor, according to BBC Northern Ireland.
We take pride in our set pieces, yet we failed to create any threat; Hungary had few chances, and we kept a clean sheet, which O’Neill will be satisfied with.
The frustration lies in the missed opportunity, had we been at our best.
Jamie Donley, on loan at Luton Town from Tottenham Hotspur, once again headed the attack but saw limited opportunities.
Isaac Price and Patrick Kelly began behind the striker, Kelly striking the post early in the half; they were supported by three promising but inexperienced teenagers, none of whom were introduced after halftime as Hungary regained control.
O’Neill said, “When we examine the forward line, we are dealing with much younger players.”
“We lack seasoned options at the front end, as Kieran Morrison, Ceadach O’Neill and Braiden Graham have limited experience and are less accustomed to senior international and first‑team football.”
O’Neill remains without Conor Bradley, who has been sidelined for six matches due to a serious knee injury sustained with Liverpool in January.
Despite discussions on neutralizing Kvaratskhelia and Szoboszlai, opponents have not needed to consider how to counter Northern Ireland’s own star player.
Even with the limited sample sizes typical of internationals, Northern Ireland have scored 24 goals in Bradley’s 16 appearances; in the nine matches without him, they managed only six goals.
With the 23‑year‑old expected to miss the remainder of the Nations League campaign, the goalless draw with Hungary underscores that replenishing his attacking influence remains O’Neill’s immediate challenge.
Nevertheless, the team demonstrated defensive solidity against Hungary, providing a solid foundation for future progress.