Football: GERRY ARMSTRONG: David Blaine is good in the box, but not

I SPOKE to my family in Northern Ireland this week, and just one word describes their feeling after watching the latest Euro 2004 qualifier against Armenia - gutted.

Not four days before Wednesday's far from grand evening, former international boss Billy Hamilton and I were out having a few bevies celebrating that terrific goalless draw in the Ukraine the previous Saturday.

What a performance that was and it gave us both real heart for the Armenia game. He was our chance to break the dreadful barren run, which had seen us fail to find the net in an astonishing 1,000 plus minutes .

I was so confident we'd score and win in style - yet the reality is far harder to swallow. Maybe we ought to think about signing up illusionist David Blaine...because we've seen how good he is in the box.

I know Sammy well. He's a passionate man,who loves his football and will have been deeply hurt by the result. It's back to square one, but I think we were just unlucky on the night.

At a time when Keith Gillespie and Tommy Doherty were playing well and really commanding the show, they both went off injured.

Not only did this upset the balance, but the Armenians whipped down the other end and scored.

It a cruel blow, but we can't say we didn't have our chances.

We really needed to score inside the first 20 minutes, and when we didn't that is when the pressure started to build.

Confidence is low any way and it is worrying our best chances of scoring came from the midfield and the likes of Crewe's Steve Jones, who had a superb game. He can count himself unlucky not to have at least tucked away one after hitting the bar and going so close with two other top chances.

We have got to get this monkey off our back soon, and what better way than beating Greece in next month's final game. Boy, would that go down well in Spain.

There is no reason why we can't do it. The defence is becoming a solid outfit, the midfield are playing well ..it's down to the chances in front of goal. A lot of people said Glentoran's Andy Smith was our best player, but as as a small nation with limited players, we can ill afford to miss one or two chances, let alone three or four.

Mind you, if it's any consolation, all the other home nations struggled this week. England were lucky against Macedonia and if it wasn't for that superkid Wayne Rooney, then they would have been in big trouble.

Talk about strong, gifted, a good passer of the ball and with a footballing brain beyond his 18 years.

He was a delight to watch and he will be a real star for England in years and years to come.

I had a call from Republic of Ireland No.2 Chris Hughton in the week and we were discussing their chances of making it through...and I have to say they'll be lucky.

Russia will comfortably dispose of Georgia, which means the Republic have to beat Switzerland in Basel - a tough job if ever there was one.

Switzerland are, admittedly, not the greatest side in the world, but like a lot of small countries they are very gritty. And if you pack enough men in midfield, the Republic are going to need more than just a bit of wizardry from Damien Duff if they are going to go through.

Dropping those points in the first two games really hurt the Republic, more than they appreciate.

However, what came over loud and clear on Saturday and against Turkey on Tuesday was how much they missed Robbie Keane up front.

Such a talent, the Spurs striker gave Brian Kerr so many options, not to mention goals. What would they do to get him back for the final showdown.

MY salute of the week goes to Berti Vogts for the way he has pulled Scotland back into the Euro 2004 qualifying frame for Portugal.

They have really pulled their socks up after having such a dismal start to their campaign.

Yes, they lost 2-1 to Germany on Wednesday, but let's face it, for Scotland to have even got close to Vogts' countrymen is a feat in itself.

I really feel they can all go the way to Portugal. Let's hope Scotland beat Lithuania and Iceland lose to Germany ..then it'll be pass the Porto please.

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