NORTHERN IRELAND suffered a huge setback in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier against Iceland at Windsor Park. The visitors wrapped up a 3-0 victory thanks to some poor defending by Lawrie Sanchez's side. Goals from Gunnar Thorvaldsson, Hermann Hreidarsson and Eidur Gudjohnsen in the first half saw Iceland home.

With a home game to come against Spain on Wednesday, Northern Ireland knew it was important to get points on the board. Sammy Clingan was quickly into the action and saw his effort go wide of the target in the third minute.

This was a bright start by Northern Ireland and Keith Gillespie, winning his 70th cap, put pressure on Indridi Sigurdsson in the 10th minute after a soft back pass. However, goalkeeper Arni Arason kept his focus and made the clearance.

Northern Ireland should have taken the lead a minute later following some good skill by Gillespie. He delivered a deep cross into the area and David Healy escaped his marker only to head over the top.

But it was Iceland that made the breakthrough in the 13th minute when Brynjar Gunnarsson played a ball over the top. Thorvaldsson reacted before Stephen Craigan and fired a shot into the corner. Gillespie then got on the end of a cross from Tony Capaldi in the 16th minute. However, the Sheffield United winger sent a weak header into the goalkeeper's arms before sending a shot wide of the post.

Iceland extended their lead in the 20th minute following poor defending. Hreidarsson scored at the back post after Johannes Gudjonsson's corner was not cut out. Northern Ireland were rattled as Steven Davis strode forward, hoping to reduce the deficit, only for the goalkeeper to save his effort.

Iceland almost added a third goal in the 26th minute but a header from Ivan Ingimarsson went marginally wide. Stuart Elliott gave Northern Ireland a glimmer of hope when he rattled in a free-kick after 34 minutes.

Iceland goalkeeper Arason was beaten but Hreidarsson cleared off the line to maintain their two-goal advantage.

The visitors made it 3-0 in the 36th minute when Gudjohnsen finished clinically after a cross from Gretar Steinsson was only partially cleared. Iceland were creating chances at will and Thorvaldsson got clear in the 42nd minute but sent his effort straight into Taylor's arms.

The half-time whistle could not come quickly enough for Sanchez's side, who had gone into the game quietly confident after beating Finland.

The manager decided to stick with the same side at the start of the second half. He was no doubt hoping for an early goal to give them any hope of getting something out of the game. But Gudjohnsen was being given far too much room to showcase his talents. Northern Ireland did at least win a free-kick in the 50th minute and Capaldi's delivery was met by James Quinn but there was no-one on hand to take advantage of his knockdown.

Northern Ireland thought they had pulled one back in the 60th minute when Healy found the net but his effort was disallowed. Sanchez made his first change in the 63rd minute when Kyle Lafferty replaced the ineffective Elliott. Instead of playing up front as usual Lafferty was employed on the right wing with Gillespie switching to the left. It was a curious decision, given that Gillespie had been Northern Ireland's best player.

Northern Ireland were anxious to save face and get a goal at least. Both Davis and Clingan got in good positions in a matter of minutes but failed to test Arason. To complete a miserable day, captain Aaron Hughes came off with a gash above his eye in the last minute.

Afterwards there was a predictable reaction from Sanchez. "I said before the game that whoever wanted it more would win it and they wanted it more. It was pretty evident. It's the first time I've heard the fans boo in Windsor Park and they are perfectly entitled to. We deserved it."