Northern Ireland U19 boss Steve Beaglehole has urged fans to come out in their numbers to roar his young Green and White Army to a fourth consecutive Milk Cup final tonight.

Northern Ireland face Georgia at Ballymena Showgrounds tonight (8.00pm) and know that only a win will be enough to return to the same venue for Friday night’s Elite final.

Despite conceding a last-minute equaliser in their first game to a slick Danish outfit, Beaglehole says the mood is good in the camp.

“The situation we’re in is no different to last year really, quite simply we know we have to win the game to make the final,” Beaglehole added.

“In fact, last year we had to win by three goals to make it and this year we know a win will get us there.

“We’re in upbeat mood and really looking forward to the game and we believe we can get the result we need; we will emphasise the need to impose ourselves on the opposition.

“I would really encourage the Northern Ireland fans to get behind us in terms of numbers and noise, because they can make a big difference to us.”

Beaglehole added: “I have been in football a long time and I have to say the medical staff here are terrific. They get the players back to their maximum in terms of energy and fitness so quickly and that is really necessary in this tournament.

“We took yesterday to recover, in the morning we took them to the beach for something a bit different.

“Salt water is great for the legs after the game, it is a natural aid to recuperation, and in the afternoon the lads had massages and a pool session. Some of the lads who didn’t play had a training session and then we had a debrief on the Denmark game.

“I’m not sure if some people understand that Denmark is very good side, with players at clubs like Ajax.

“All the teams that are here are capable of beating each other.

“We have made it to three consecutive finals and there is no reason why we can’t make it four.”

Beaglehole has also urged supporters and the media to look at the bigger picture, further than just tonight’s game and the tournament itself.

He has revealed this is the youngest squad he has brought to the Milk Cup and that can have a big bearing on the results.

“Coming into this tournament I knew it was going to be harder than the previous ones,” he adds.

“At 18, 19 and 20-years-old a year means a big difference to the players. A couple of years ago we played Germany and beat them |3-2 in the Milk Cup and they came with a lot of lads who were 18-years-old. A lot of our boys were 18 months or two years older and that made a difference.

“Now that group of German players is being described as one of the best groups they’ve had.

“I remember after the game they were upbeat even though they had lost and sometimes we get carried away thinking we have to win every game.

“This week is great preparation for our European Championship qualifiers.”