This game was always going to be a better indicator of where Northern Ireland currently are as opposed to the Switzerland game on Tuesday, with Turkey ranked 14 places below Lindsay's side and it had the feel of two evenly-matched teams slogging it out.
Lindsay wanted more from NI on the ball on his return to Mourneview Park, where he spent time as a player and coach with Glenavon, and he opted for a more attacking side than in Lausanne, going with a 4-3-3 set up.
Two of the players brought in, Mia Moore and Maxwell, impressed with the Burnley winger particularly lively out right.
But, it was two frequent themes that have become synonymous with Northern Ireland in recent years that cost them again: an individual error and a lack of quality in the final third.
Perry's erratic kicking was punished at the second time of asking by Turkoglu, while NI only managed one shot on target despite having more of the ball in the second half.
There is no doubt they have been shored up defensively in Lindsay's short spell in charge and they moved the ball well in spells in Lurgan, but this defeat is damaging to their hopes of securing a play-off for the World Cup and puts pressure on them to win both of their games against Malta next month.
What will need urgently addressed before the next two games in April will be the manager situation.
Players have come out in support of Lindsay staying on as manager, but it still remains to be seen whether he will want the job full-time or if there are other candidates to replace Tanya Oxtoby permanently.
