Northern Ireland are on four points from two games in the Uefa Nations League Group B2 after a 0-0 stalemate with Hungary in Belfast.

The hosts hit the crossbar through Patrick Kelly in the first half, but it was a game of precious few chances at Windsor Park.

Coming into the game, Northern Ireland had lost just once of their previous nine at home and the visitors never looked likely to join Germany in winning here across that run.

Northern Ireland’s Pierce Charles did not have to make his first save until the 90th minute of the game, but Balazs Toth was only marginally busier in the Hungarian goal.

After Shea Charles’ 99th-minute winner against Georgia on Friday, there was to be no late drama this time around and their four points from two played is an identical record to that of Ukraine, who they face in the third fixture of this four-game window in Slovakia on Friday.

Northern Ireland were the better side in a first half of few opportunities in Belfast.

Barnsley midfielder Kelly went the closest, looping the ball onto the Hungarian bar from close range when perhaps distracted by the grappling between Milos Kerkez and Shea Charles occurring just in front of him.

Kelly had already tested Toth in the visitors’ goal when he just failed to get enough under a delicate chip on the counter.

Isaac Price and Trai Hume also had efforts from distance for Northern Ireland, but home goalkeeper Pierce Charles did not have a save to make across the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors improved after the break but it was still approaching the hour-mark when they had their first efforts on goal, though neither of Andras Schafer’s strikes found the target.

Replacement Donat Barany certainly should have tested Northern Ireland’s keeper with 20 minutes remaining, but headed over from five yards.

Price had an effort pushed past the post by Toth after the ball broke kindly for him in the box, while Ruairi McConville made a terrific block at the other end.

Alex Toth had a chance to steal a win for the visitors seconds before injury time but saw his effort beat away by Charles.