Totally dejected after an embarrassing defeat to Latvia, they all walked head down and embarrassed by their performance.

Their moods hadn't improved in Riga International Airport yesterday afternoon when they set out for Reykjavik.

Not even the fact Spain dropped points against Iceland late on Saturday night could improve their spirits.

While Northern Ireland wounded stars realised they are still very much in the hunt for Euro 2008 qualification, it only added to their woe that they hadn't taken advantage with maximum points of Latvia.

This was a hugely frustrating and disappointing visit to the Latvian capital, but for the Green and White Army it turned out to be an absolute night and an away trip to forget - bad result, overly rough tactics from the local police and locals charging a few extra Lats, whenever they could get the opportunity.

While some fans did misbehave the large majority of supporters were terrific ambassadors for their country.

In Riga walking on the grass of the city's Main Square and singing while heading to the stadium is somehow an offence which deserves the person to be arrested.

The supporters, all 2,100 of them, to their credit though refused to let all the nonsense that went on in that Main Square on the Friday night and Saturday afternoon dampen the enthusiasm they have for supporting their beloved country.

As soon at the gates were open at the Skonto Stadium the fans flocked through the turnstiles hung up their banners and became a wall of green, white and blue on the temporary seating behind the right hand goal.

There were banners from the Antrim Kneebreakers, Banbridge, Scarva, Lisburn, Scottish NISC, Castlereagh, Bangor and many, many more.

There was a worry that the temporary seating would collapse under the strain of the fans as they started their usual 'bouncy,' but thankfully the structure held firm.

James Bond baddy lookalikes guarded every section of the stadium and naturally weren't very interested in exchanging banter with the Green and White Army.

This, however, didn't deter some supporters who took their life in their own hands.

Despite the shocking display on the pitch the GAWA's continued to be in fine voice and even at the final whistle they cheered off their sorry heroes.

As the PA announcer asked the Northern Ireland fans to remain in their seats for 15 minutes after the final whistle they started to chant: 'We're not going home.'

Once that time limit was up they still continued to chant away until the James Bond baddies started to flex their vocal chords and rather large muscles and the chant became 'We are going home!'

They then left for one final night in Riga - with cheap beer and rather interesting night-life.

Hours later those dedicated fans departed, some for a gruelling trip to Reykjavik via various parts of Scandinavia as there are no scheduled flights between Riga and Iceland's capital city.

Others headed back home, not getting the chance to see their heroes make up for Saturday night's disappointment.

Those supporters deserve a performance to be proud off on Wednesday night - something tells me the players, judging by their emotions yesterday, won't let them down this time.