NI improving but 'nowhere near where we want to be' - Oxtoby

Watch: Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby on Hungary clash

Venue: Seaview, Belfast Date: Tuesday, 31 October Kick-off: 19:00 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website; report, live text and highlights on BBC Sport website

Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby says her team have improved during the early stages of her reign but admits they are "nowhere near where we want to be" regarding their long-term ambitions.

They suffered late heartache in Hungary on Friday and face the same opponents in Belfast on Tuesday.

"We've spoken about using that as motivation for this game," Oxtoby said, referring to Friday's defeat in Gyor.

"This game can't come quick enough for the group to get out there and put that right."

Having opened their Women's Nations League campaign with a defeat by the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and a home victory over Albania, Northern Ireland looked as though they had done enough to leave Gyor with a point on Friday.

Hungary twice took the lead, and while Northern Ireland hit back through substitutes Caragh Hamilton and Simone Magill, the hosts scored a 94th-minute winner to claim all three points.

"Look, we're nowhere near where we want to be longer term, but there's improvement and a willingness to take on board information and to make tweaks and apply it," added Oxtoby, who said she has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Tuesday's match.

Having succeeded Kenny Shiels as manager earlier this year, former Chelsea assistant coach Oxtoby outlined her goal to establish Northern Ireland as regular participants at major tournaments.

NI reached last year's Euros under Shiels but missed out on World Cup qualification.

With three games under her belt, Oxtoby is chasing first and foremost a top-two finish in Nations League Group B1, which would earn NI a spot in the promotion play-offs.

But in terms of the long-term plan, she says she has a clearer picture of the job that lies ahead.

"I think so [having a clearer picture of challenges ahead] and the group know what that is as well," said the Australian.

"We're very open and transparent with each other about the areas we need to focus and improve on and also the strengths that we have and need to continue to grow.

"We're all on the same page with that, we're moving in the right direction. This group wants to be competing at major tournaments and we have the process to get there.

"We just need to continue to work at it and apply it at every single opportunity."

Northern Ireland paid for a slow start in Gyor on Friday, going in 1-0 down at the break.

While Hamilton made an instant impact off the bench after replacing Danielle Maxwell, scoring with her first touch to make it 1-1, the Lewes midfielder says Northern Ireland must lay down an early marker as they look to exact revenge on Hungary.

"That's one of the things we've spoken about, starting better," said Hamilton.

"We weren't at it in the first 20 minutes, we changed a couple of things and adapted really well.

"That's what we need to do, be able to adapt as quickly as possible in-game. You can set up and do everything on the tactics board but you need to be able to adapt in the game and problem solve quickly.

"That's what we're focusing on: how we can impose ourselves and focus on our gameplan. If we execute that properly then we'll get the result."

Hamilton scored with her first touch after coming off the bench in Friday's match in Gyor

Hamilton also believes the team is heading in the right direction under Oxtoby.

"I think you can see that other night with players coming on, everyone knows their role and and their job.

"There are no egos. Everyone is united in what we want to do and we're starting to really understand what our strategy is and how we want to move forward and what our identity is as a team.

"Everyone is really buying into that and that's credit to the management team and how they've set it up."