Martin Paterson has given Northern Ireland a 1-0 lead against Russia at half time at Windsor Park this evening.

Paterson's towering header gave Michael O'Neill's side the lead three minutes before the break when Niall McGinn dropped in an inviting cross for the striker to attack.

The Northern Irish were unfortunate not to have the lead two minutes earlier when
Jamie Ward's mazy run resulted in a low-struck drive that bounced off the post and fell kindly into Igor Akinfeev's hands.

O'Neill has failed to win any of his nine games in charge as of yet.