Northern Ireland were left lamenting their missed chances as they failed to leapfrog Romania at the top of their qualifying group for next year’s European Championships after a 0-0 draw at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Saturday.

The result saw Romania remain a point ahead of Northern Ireland at the top of Group F.

Kyle Lafferty and Oliver Norwood both went close for the home side late on.

Lafferty, who has scored five goals in the qualifying campaign so far, had a great opportunity to break the dreadlock seven minutes from time but snatched at his opportunity.

Ciprian Tatarusanu made the save and scrambled clear Norwood’s goalbound free-kick moments later.

Nevertheless, the draw saw Northern Ireland — who have not qualified for a major tournament finals in more than 30 years — kept them in the second automatic spot out of Group F for France 2016 with four games to go.

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans also played a key role in the match, going closet to opening the scoring in the first half with a header before deflecting Romania’s best chance of the half, a shot by Gabriel Torje, narrowly wide of the posts.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill gave a first competitive start to both goalkeeper Michael McGovern, deputising for the ill Roy Carroll, and Stuart Dallas, who replaced Niall McGinn on the left wing.

With the ground under redevelopment, only 10,000 fans were in Windsor Park on Saturday and they saw Romania’s Claudiu Keseru almost score as early as the second minute when his 35-yard free-kick just cleared the crossbar.

Alexandru Chipchiu might have made it 1-0 to Romania as well but for Steven Davis’s well-timed tackle in the penalty area.

Northern Ireland had a good chance of their own two minutes before the break when Chris Brunt’s corner was glanced across goal by Chris Baird.

Evans reacted first with a stooping header, but Tatarusanu made the save.

The second half witnessed a lack of composure in front of goal from both sides, Lafferty heading over from Brunt’s hanging cross.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Torje seemed set to give Romania a 64th-minute lead only for Evans to divert the ball away from danger with an outstretched leg.

Then came Lafferty’s excellent opportunity only for his usually good touch to let him down before Tatarusanu beat clear Norwood’s free-kick.