Hello and thank you for joining Sports Mole for this evening’s clash in Adana.

Neither of these sides managed to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Therefore, tonight’s fixture is all about rebuilding confidence.

Ranking points are also at stake. Turkey, who finished fourth in UEFA Qualifying Group D, behind Holland, Romania and Hungary, are currently ranked 40th in the FIFA World Rankings. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, who finished fifth in Group F, behind Russia, Portugal, Israel and Azerbaijan, are officially the 90th best side in the world.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill (pictured above) takes charge of his first game since signing a new contract tonight. The 44-year-old put pen to paper on a fresh two-year-deal earlier this month.

O'Neill’s preparations for tonight’s match have been far from ideal. Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt, Michael O'Connor, Jamie Ward and Shane Ferguson have all withdrawn from the original squad. Meanwhile, Corry Evans, Craig Cathcart and Kyle Lafferty, whose partner is due to give birth, are also unavailable.

NORTHERN IRELAND XI: Carroll, Hughes, Evans, Baird, Hodson, Clingan, Norwood, Davis, D Lafferty, McGinn, Paterson

O'Neill has selected a 3-5-2 formation. Fulham's Aaron Hughes starts in defence, winning his 88th cap. That moves the 34-year-old level with Sammy McIlroy and Maik Taylor as the nation's joint-fourth most-capped footballer.

NORTHERN IRELAND SUBS: Mannus, McArdle, McGivern, McPake, Steele, McKay, Grigg

Uncapped New York Red Bulls midfielder Jonny Steele is on the visitors' bench. The Larne-born 27-year-old is expected to be used in the second half as an impact player.

Finally, the Turkey team is in...

TURKEY STARTING XI: Zengin; Kaya, Kisa, Gonul, Ozyakup; Turan, Topal, Erkin, Erdinc; Buyuk, Gulum

TURKEY SUBS: Aziz, Ciftçi, Dogan, Camdal, Karabulut, Ucan, Altinay, Tore, Yilmaz, Kirintili, Kara, Sahan, Sararer, Bulut, Demir, Ayvaz

Northern Ireland get the game underway.

OFF THE BAR! It's a bright start for the home side, as Steven Davis has to make a save off the line, before Adem Buyuk sees his rebound kept out by the crossbar. Northern Ireland are yet to test out their opponents' defenders.

CHANCE! Turkey continue to look the stronger of the two sides, as Buyuk looks to test Carroll again, but his effort it blocked. Gulum tries to lash it back it, but he can't get the back past Lafferty.

There's an injury concern for the Turkish side as Adem Buyuk has picked up an ankle injury, and seems to be in quite some pain. The referee stops the game so that the striker can get treatment. It would be a big loss for the hosts if the dangerous-looking forward had to go off, as he has caused all sorts of problems for the Northern Irish defenders in the opening spell of this match.

It looks like Buyuk is going to be alright to carry on for now. Following a fast-paced opening 15 minutes, Turkey are starting to slow the game down and try to keep the ball more, holding it in midfield. The visitors are still yet to really threaten the Turkish goal.

Gulum is on the attack again for the home side, looking to head in from an Erkin corner, but he nods the ball wide. Turkey are quickly on the attack again though, they really have been dictating the match so far tonight.

CHANCE! Buyuk appears to have completely shaken his early ankle trouble as he sprints into the box before picking the ball up from a Turan cross, but he can't get his header on target.

As the visitors continue to attempt the weather the Turkish storm, Lafferty is forced to put the ball behind for another corner. Erkin tries to catch Northern Ireland out with a deep delivery, but Ozyakup slices his strike from just outside the box, resulting in his finish comfortably clearing the crossbar.

Northern Ireland really don't look like creating anything close to a goal-scoring opportunity at the moment. They're having to get numbers back just to slow down the Turkish attack, and when they do manage to get forward, there's just not enough support in the box. It's been a night to forget for Michael O'Neill's men so far.

The visitors manage to string together a series of passes inside Turkey's half, but the move comes to nothing. As Turkey go on the counter-attack, Jonny Evans has his ankle trampled on as he collides with Buyuk, temporarily leaving the Manchester United defender in pain on the ground, but he manages to shake it off.

McGinn goes on a brilliant run down the right-hand side of the pitch for give the visitors their first real sight of the goal, but Lafferty's attempt to tap it in is knocked wide for a corner. Norwood curls it in, but Zengin eventually manages to gather the ball.

Northern Ireland are starting to enjoy their first decent spell of possession, forcing Semih Kaya and Gokhan Gonul to make a series of crucial blocks on the edge of the box. Having frustrated the home side for the majority of this first half, now would be a good time for the visitors to get themselves back into this match.

BOOKING! Oliver Norwood picks up the first yellow card of the night for a wild challenge on Bilal Kisa

OFF THE POST! For the second time in this half, Turkey are denied by the woodwork as Adem Buyuk sends in a cross intended for Bilal Kisa. The midfielder can't get to the ball in time, but it looks like Buyuk's effort has caught Carroll out, but it's just turned away by the right upright.

Having allowed Northern Ireland to get a foothold in this first half, Turkey are finishing the half really strongly, showing impressive pace as they bear down on the goal yet again.

It's a big blow for Northern Ireland on the cusp of half time, as Mevlut Erding times his run into the box superbly, just keeping himself on time long enough to pick up Kisa's ball in. He has to stretch hard to reach the delivery, but just gets his toes to it to guide it past Roy Carroll.

So Northern Ireland concede in the final seconds of the first half, having fought to keep themselves in the match for much of the opening 45 minutes. It was a stunning move from Turkey to break the deadlock, with Kisa timing his delivery for Erding to perfection just before the half-time whistle.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Turkey saw the majority of the ball, with 66% of the possession. The hosts had eight shots to Northern Ireland's two, with four on target, while Tolga Zengin didn't have to make a save.

The visitors kept the referee busy in the opening
45 minutes, making 10 fouls, while Turkey troubled the officials on just four occasions. Oliver Norwood was the only player to be booked in the opening period.

Turkey have left their substitutes on the pitch to warm up during the half-time break. It looks like they could be looking to bring on some of their younger players early in the second half.

Both sets of players are making their way back out ready for the second half.

SUB! Turkey do indeed make a change, as Burak Yilmaz replaces Oguzhan Ozyakup.

Turkey kick off the second half.

SUB! There's also a rather surprising change for Northern Ireland, as Alan Mannus has taken over from Roy Carroll in goal. Carroll had a reasonable opening half up until the goal.

Davis looks to get the visitors off to a strong start, but can't get enough support up front. Turkey are immediately on the counter, with Yilmaz looking to have a quick impact, but Mannus is more than ready in the away goal.

Turkey are pressing for a second, as Yilmaz looks to set up a chance for Buyuk, but Hughes is able to get the block in. The visitors look more organised at the back so far this half, having been easily stretched in the first half. Since the restart, Turkey haven't been able to match their pace from the first 45 minutes.

Turkey win a free kick, which Turan lashes in towards Buyuk, who tries to set up Yilmaz for a tap in from close range, but the substitute striker can't control the ball in time, and it goes behind for a goal kick.

Neither side have been able to take control of this half yet. Turkey have probably had slightly more possession since the restart, but Northern Ireland are defending strongly and looking to break on the counter, but just can't get numbers forward quickly enough.

CHANCE! Oliver Norwood tees up the first on-target effort of the match for Northern Ireland, testing Zengin with a curling volley from just outside the box, but the Turkish keeper watches it all the way before taking a comfortable save.

OFF THE POST! It's a hat-trick of saves for the woodwork this evening! This time, the post spares the blushes of Aaron Hughes, who almost turns the ball into his own net while defending an Erding cross.

Burak Yilmaz has added a good injection of pace up front since coming off the Turkey bench at half time, but this time he's too quick, drifting offside before unleashing a high drive towards the Northern Ireland goal from 25 yards out.

SUB! Salih Ucan comes off the bench in place of Adem Buyuk.

Northern Ireland are starting to get more opportunities inside the Turkish half. Lafferty makes a good run towards the home side's area before crossing in with Norwood and Paterson waiting near the goal, but Zengin managed to get to it first.

SUB! Northern Ireland make another change as Jonny Steele comes on for McGinn.

Yilmaz continues to look lively up front for Turkey, forcing Jonny Evans to turn the ball behind for the hosts' eighth corner of the evening.

SUB! The home side make another change, replacing Mehmet Topal, who has been quiet in midfield, with Tarik Camdal.

SUB! The changes are coming thick and fast now as Ryan McGivern comes on for the visitors, taking the place of Daniel Lafferty.

SUB! Goalscorer Mevlut Erding comes off to huge cheers from the home fans, with Gokhan Tore takes his place.

Back on the pitch, all the changes have upset Turkey's rhythm a little, and they almost let Paterson in for the visitors, but Gonul is able to take the ball away from the Northern Ireland striker.

Northern Ireland look rejuvenated by their recent bout of changes, as the continue to apply pressure inside the Turkey half. However, the home side get plenty of men back to make sure they hold onto their one-goal lead.

SUB! In a bid to halt Northern Ireland's current strong spell, Turkey are making another change. Bilal Kisa, who was busy in the first half but has tired in the last 10 minutes or so, makes way for Nuri Sahin.

Northern Ireland are pushing hard for a late equaliser, as Hodgson makes a run into the box, before his attempted cross to Paterson is blocked by Erkin. The visitors have looked a different side in the second half.

SUB! Turkey look to use up some of the remaining time and halt the Northern Ireland charge with another change. Arda Turan makes way for Ishak Dogan.

CHANCE! Gorkhan Tore looks to put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time for the hosts with a strike from outside the box, but it's always rises, and ends up well high of the crossbar.

Camdal puts the ball behind to give Northern Ireland a late corner, but the delivery into the box is swiftly claimed by Zengin. Yilmaz immediately looks to get a shot away on the counter attack, but he loses control of the ball, allowing Mannus to gather.

Despite a much improved performance in the second half, Northern Ireland are unable to find an equaliser against Turkey. The home side could have easily found themselves further ahead, dominating the opening 45 minutes and hitting the woodwork three times during the meeting.

The visitors' best chance fell to Oliver Norwood, who was the only Northern Ireland player to have a shot on target, but solid performances at the back from Lafferty and Evans helped keep Michael O'Neill's men in contention.

That's all from Adana this evening, but stick around for coverage of the rest of today's international friendlies and World Cup qualifier playoffs. Thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.