Josh Magennis believes Northern Ireland should take plenty of positives from Thursday's heartbreaking defeat in Rotterdam.
Michael O'Neill's side came agonisingly close to earning a massive result in their latest Euro 2020 qualifying test on Thursday night .
Magennis headed them in front in the 75th minute as a shock win was suddenly on the cards, but the Dutch stormed back with three goals in the final 10 minutes to claim a 3-1 win.
Memphis Depay equalised in the 80th minute, while Luuk De Jong forced home the second in the first minute of added time.
And Depay rubbed salt in the wounds with Holland's third goal in the 94th minute.
The scoreline flattered the hosts whose celebrations highlighted just how big a result they had earned.
"We just said after the game that we shouldn't get the heads down," Magennis said.
"We put in incredible work rate off the ball. We knew how difficult it was going to be.
"We knew they would get chances, and unfortunately for us they took three of them tonight.
"It is a bitter pill to swallow."
Magennis - introduced as a 65th-minute substitution by O'Neill - sent the Green and White Army into raptures when he outjumped Matthijs De Ligt to head home Stuart Dallas' hanging cross in the 75th minute.
"It was madness when it went in - I was just thinking happy days," Magennis said.
"I just wanted to make an impact coming off the bench, and thankfully I managed to do that.
"Stuarty hung one up and I managed to get up before the defender and get it on target.
"Then it was 15 minutes of trying and hang on and be disciplined, but unfortunately we weren't able to hold out.
"Their quality showed tonight, but we will take plenty of positives. Just look at how they celebrated their equaliser, and then winning the game.
"We went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world so we will take massive positives.
"Yes, there are areas where we could do better, but we should be proud of the performance."
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