Martin Paterson is preparing for Northern Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier in Israel tomorrow – wondering how they went down 2-0 in Azerbaijan.

Even though hopes of making next year’s finals in Brazil were long since extinguished, Friday’s defeat in Baku was still a big disappointment for Michael O’Neill’s men.

Ireland have now lost three in a row, and five of their nine Group F fixtures overall, with just one win, at home to Russia in August.

Town striker Paterson clinched the 1-0 win over the Russians at Windsor Park, his third goal for Ireland, but was denied by the woodwork late on Baku, where he won his 19th cap.

O’Neill, who will have Town midfielder Ollie Norwood suspended against Israel after a second booking of the campaign in Baku, saw his side concede two second-half goals.

Paterson, 26, said: “If you watched the game, you were scratching your head wondering how we lost it.

“The scoreline doesn’t reflect how we played.

“We dominated the first half, but didn’t take our chances, and their goalkeeper played well.

“Then we switched off for a couple of minutes in the second half, and they scored. Then I hit the bar – it’s a game of inches – and their second goal was pure frustration.

“That said, we only have ourselves to blame.

“It’s no-one else’s fault but the lads who were out there, and now we have to bounce back.

“I don’t think we’re miles away, but it’s a fine line. We had four or five decent chances before they scored, but we have to take at least one of them.

“We are a young group, but we have to learn fast and make sure we work hard as we have a bit to do to have a chance of doing better in the next campaign.”

Along with Norwood, who won his 13th cap against Azerbaijan, Ireland will be without Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley in Tel Aviv.

Manchester United man Evans was red carded in Baku while fellow defender McAuley, of West Brom, received a second yellow card of the qualifiers. It’s expected Norwood will return to England before tomorrow’s game, while Paterson will be back in time to prepare for Town’s Championship trip to Leicester on Saturday.

On-loan Town defender Jazz Richards is with Wales for their final Group A qualifier against Belgium in Brussels.

The twice-capped Swansea full-back, 22, was an unused sub for Friday’s 1-0 win over Macedonia at the City of Cardiff Stadium.