Michael O'Neill bullish after Northern Ireland win in Faroes

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill is convinced his side is bound for the European Championship after they won 3-1 against Faroe Islands.

Two Gareth McAuley headers and Kyle Lafferty's sixth goal of the European Qualifiers left O'Neill's side just one win from securing their place at the finals in France.

After Hungary and Romania drew 0-0 in Budapest, Northern Ireland will now progress if they beat Hungary in Belfast on Monday.

Doing that would take them to the finals of the event for the first time and to a major tournament for the first time since 1986.

O'Neill still exercised caution after a hugely significant victory but conceded his team's job was almost done.

He said: "I think we're guaranteed third anyway so that's a good start. We know what's at hand. The result in Budapest is obviously in our favour as well.

"The players' response all week has been superb. I've no doubt we'll get a similar response on Monday night. Hopefully we get a similar result.

"We know the significance of three points. It's a fantastic prize for the players, well deserved. They've won three of the four games away from home which is phenomenal in any campaign.

"I genuinely can't see them letting this opportunity... them not taking it – I can't see how they won't take it."

Nerves are likely to affect the crowd when Hungary visit Windsor Park but O'Neill isn't concerned about his players choking.

He added: "It's a great scenario to be playing for qualification in our home stadium. The pleasing aspect of it is we do have a little bit of a safety net there as well.

"A lot of people talked about this as a must-win and a pivotal game – it really isn't. The work we did in the early part of the group gave us a buffer that we didn't need tonight.

"We can go into that (Hungary) game and do everything possible to win that group. We're top and I just think the players will respond. This is the game that was going to be the nervous game.

"The next game, I think they'll handle it. I look at the intensity of the team, right through the team, there wasn't a player that didn't perform tonight. I just thought we were excellent to a man.

"We just have to continue that. The effects of the game tonight and the fatigue element of it, I don't think they will be a factor given what's at stake."