BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Corry Evans was a half-time substitute for Northern Ireland as a brace from former Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty gave them a 2-1 win over Finland.

Evans was not named in the starting line-up for the Euro 2016 qualifier at Windsor Park but came on for Steven Davis at the interval with Northern Ireland leading 2-0.

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Lafferty’s first-half brace was enough to win the game for Michael O’Neill’s side and keep them only a point behind European Championship qualifying group F leaders Romania, who beat the Faroe Islands 1-0.

They had to endure a nervous finish after Berat Sadik’s late goal but held on for victory.

Burnley-born Oliver Norwood completed the 90 minutes for Northern Ireland, as did former Claret Chris Baird.

Lafferty said: “It was obviously nervous but we deserved to win the game.

“It was excellent today, the attitude, the heart and the team performance.”

The Turkey-based front man’s first goal was an excellent volley on the turn before he nodded in the second, taking him second among his country’s all-time leading scorers ahead of Colin Clarke and Billy Gillespie.

He said: “Obviously it’s all going right for me at the minute and I’m enjoying it.

“The first goal, I decided to hit it first time and luckily it went in.

“But it’s down to the team, everyone was excellent today.

“Although I’m getting the goals and the rewards you have to look at the team performance.”