Montenegro 2-0 Northern Ireland

Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic shots just wide in Podgorica

Northern Ireland lost their final warm-up game before the Euro 2012 qualifiers as Radomir Djalovic struck a double.

The striker fired in after Northern Ireland failed to clear a cross at the end of the first half in Podgorica.

The visitors improved after the break and Kyle Lafferty saw his shot tipped round the post by Mladen Bozovic.

Poor defending let Djalovic in to slot home after 59 minutes while Bozovic made another fine save to keep out Grant McCann's late free-kick.

A bumpy surface and high humidity contributed to a lacklustre opening 45 minutes in the City Stadium.

The impressive Mirko Vucinic and his strike partner Djalovic linked up well to provide the only goal threat while Nigel Worthington's team struggled in attack.

Laverty was isolated as Northern Ireland's lone striker, while possession was too easily squandered by both sides.

Chris Brunt went close with a defected shot going just wide on 13 minutes.

606: DEBATE Main plus was Oliver Norwood, looked very good on the ball mines_a_pint

Martin Paterson was booked in the 36th minute after clashing with Luka Pejovic.

The final ball eluded Montenegro and it required a touch of fortune for the opener just before the break.

Andy Little failed to clear from a cross and Vucinic's shot was blocked before Djalovic pounced to fire home from six yards.

Northern Ireland started brightly after the break, helped by half-time substitutes Corey Evans, Warren Feeney and Grant McCann.

Lafferty saw his looping shot deflected wide before a powerful strike was tipped round the post by Bozovic.

The Rangers forward was brought off after a 57th minute booking and Montenegro made it 2-0 two minutes later with their first significant attack of the second half.

The Northern Ireland defence was caught napping as a cross from the right found the unmarked Dalovic at the backpost and the striker calmly slipped the ball into the bottom corner.

Jonny Evans headed straight at Bozovic from a corner before Manchester United team-mate Oliver Norwood came on for his senior debut.

Vucinic should have made it 3-0 but he delayed his shot, which took a decisive touch off Stephen Craigan to take it wide.

Norwood displayed youthful confidence with a cheeky chip which flew well over while Bozovic rescued his team again by keeping out McCann's free-kick two minutes from time.

---

Montenegro: Mladen Bozovic, Pavicevic, Djudovic, Jovanovic, Milorad Pekovic, Vukcevic, Pejovic, Zverotic, Vladimir Bozovic, Vucinic, Djalovic. Subs: Blazic, Savic, Drasko Bozovic, Beciraj, Novakovic, Tomasevic, Delibasic.

N Ireland: Taylor, Little, McGivern, J Evans, Craigan, Baird, Davis, Clingan, Paterson, Lafferty, Brunt.Subs: Tuffey, Corry Evans, McCann, Healy, Feeney, Patterson, Norwood, Gorman, Blayney.

Referee: Bosko Jovanetic (Serbia)