WALES manager Jayne Ludlow felt her players "let themselves down" after Northern Ireland struck an injury-time equaliser to draw their Women's Euro 2021 qualifier 2-2 in Newport.

Ashley Hutton marked her 100th appearance for Northern Ireland by heading home in the 94th minute after Wales goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan had pushed Demi Vance's free-kick on to the crossbar at Rodney Parade.

"It feels like a loss and it was a bit of a shock the way we've been in training," Ludlow said.

"We've come away from this one feeling like we've let ourselves down.

"We haven't performed well in a lot of areas - and you could see the result was coming.

"We know we're a work in progress, but we have made it harder for ourselves."

Simone Magill had given Northern Ireland a 10th-minute lead before goals from Emma Jones and Kayleigh Green looked like giving Ludlow's side a second Group C win.

Wales, ranked 32nd in the world and 27 places above Northern Ireland, had begun their campaign last Thursday by hitting the Faroe Islands for six.

Northern Ireland, by contrast, had started their qualifying programme with a 6-0 defeat against group favourites Norway.

"It's a wake-up call," Ludlow said. "Every time we play we have to be at our best. Tonight we weren't.

"Full credit to Northern Ireland, they created lots of chances. But look at how we defended.

"We've made it (qualifying) harder for ourselves but there's many games left and we have to adjust. We're a newly-ranked second team in the group, and for the last 20 years we've been the third.

"I haven't spoken as much in a football match as I have in this game and that highlights things weren't going right. But we'll learn from it because we have to be better."