Keith Gillespie was magnificent and the fans were absolutely magnificent

Sammy McIlroy

Neil Lennon battles with Roman Tyce

Gillespie said it was great to be back on the international stage.

"I'm just a bit disappointed that we couldn't get the fans the goal that their support deserved.

"For my header that hit the post, it was a fantastic ball in and I just threw myself at it.

"An inch the other side and it would have been a goal but that's the way it goes," said Gillespie.

Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes, who was caught flat-footed for the Czechs' goal, felt just as hard done by as McIlroy.

"I'm just as disappointed that we didn't get anything out of it," he said.

"All the lads put in 100% and it was a much better performance than the last game against Norway.

"As Sammy said we just needed that bit of luck and today we didn't have it.

"Nobody let their heads go down and we got stuck in and kept going, kept going and we were unlucky not to get something out of it.

Phil Gray's shot which was cleared off the line

"But if we get three points out of our next game against Bulgaria on Wednesday, then that would be better than a draw here and a draw there."

Czech coach Jozef Chovanec claimed he was not surprised by the Northern Ireland's stirring display.

He added that McIlroy's side could yet qualify even though they have four points from their four games.

"We knew it would be difficult and we were playing against a team which had taken a point off Denmark the last time," he said.

"We were not much better than our hosts, but that's football and sometimes it happens that not every team can meet expectations.

"Some of the Irish players showed great skill and they caused us certain problems.

"If the Irish play the same way as they did against us and as they did against Denmark, then they still have a big chance."

McIlroy reported one or two injury niggles ahead of Monday's flight to Sofia and Gillespie has a calf problem and Jim Magilton and Danny Griffin have minor thigh injuries.