It was what we expected. After the bitter disappointment of Thursday, this was always going to be a tough watch.

I cannot find any official attendance but I would guess the stadium was 2/3 full.(see below) The players struggled to play at intensity, the fans likewise passive. Not that you can blame any involved. The sense of regret had not dissipated in the four days in between. Frustration was only heightened when news filtered through that Bosnia had equalised against Italy. Later, we learnt that Edin Dzeko's side had made it through, once again on penalties. How we would have loved the opportunity to put Italy under the utmost pressure for the final World Cup spot. Now we will never know.

The most interesting element in the buildup to the game was the controversy surrounding Michael O'Neill and his dual role with the national team and a struggling Blackburn Rovers. His striker Jamie Donley was one of those players caught up in the news cycle, with the Oxford United player - on loan from Tottenham - set to play a big role in the relegation battle. Apparently the usage of Oxford strikers by their national manager was the theme of this international break.

It was of course Donley who found the breakthrough in the first-half. Ben Cabango did not cover himself in glory, allowing two Northern Irish attackers to drift behind him. The ball gently bounced off the far post from the cross, and two men in white were waiting for it, without a Welsh defender in sight. Still, Wales dominated the ball for most of the half but with little penetration through the disciplined Northern Irish back five. The lack of a focal point was again exposed, despite the best efforts of young Lewis Koumas. Sorba Thomas was impressive again on the left, while David Brooks showed some lovely touches. Along with Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson, and Dan James, Wales have relative riches of skilful, pacey, flexible attacking players. The question is how best to use them in a cohesive unit. That question is a lot easier when Kieffer Moore is fit, but we cannot rely on a 33-year-old for much longer.

Sorba Thomas deserved his equalising goal immediately after the restart, and Wales looked much more positive in the second-half. Dylan Lawlor came on at half-time for Cabango, and Wales immediately looked to be playing higher up the pitch and with more purpose - but a goal will do this for a team. The other Swansea interest was Ethan Galbraith, who showed some neat touches and two or three raking passes, but otherwise sat in for his team.

Karl Darlow again produced a fantastic save to keep out an Eoin Toal header, Wales had several further good chances and kept 66% of possession but the game ended 1-1, with the many empty blue seats at the end of the game telling its own story.

Kudos to the roughly 300 Northern Irish fans who made the trip to Cardiff, (above) despite the chance to claim a refund from the Irish FA. While fewer and less rowdy than the intimidating Bosnia fans, they brought some colour to a drab affair.

Attention turns to Belfast now, and not only for the Green and White Army. The Euro 2028 draw will take place in the Northern Irish capital in December. It will be a long summer.

It could save your life.

Photograph : Rhys Clayton & open source