STEVEN Davis could not stop Northern Ireland from losing 2-1 at home to Austria in the UEFA Nations League tonight.

The Saints midfielder helped get Northern Ireland back in the game after failing to prevent the visitors taking a 49th-minute lead at Windsor Park, Belfast.

Davis, on the night he won his 107th cap, failed to cut out a cross from the left and Xaver Schlager darted in front of George Saville to fire a low shot across goal and into the bottom right-hand corner.

The opening goal brought Northern Ireland to life.

Davis’s shot was blocked before the rebound was fired over.

Then Northern Ireland equalised in the 56th minute through Corry Evans, only for Valentino Lazaro to break Northern Ireland hearts with virtually the last kick of the game.

Nothern Ireland  manager Michael O'Neill blamed fatigue for the late goal - and a rare Davis error.

"We were just weary in the last few minutes I think, we couldn't clear the ball a couple of times," he said.

"Steven (Davis) maybe gave the ball away which we rarely see and that's just down to mental and physical fatigue."

But 33 year-old Davis, who is out of contract at the end of the season, gave an otherwise excellent performance in midfield, as he did against Eire last week. 

It prompted Glasgow Rangers fans to tweet their wish for him to leave Saints and rejoin the ‘Gers in January.

“Steven Davis still got it let’s go for him in January,” tweeted one.

“Steven Davis has 100 per cent still got it, really hope he’s back in January,” wrote another.

A goalless draw between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vienna had already sealed Northern Ireland’s fate in the Nations League.

But Davis had been keen to avenge last month’s 1-0 defeat in Austria.

Before the game, he said: “It would be nice to finish 2018 on a high against Austria in front of our fans, leading into the Euro 2020 qualifiers. I feel there's still a lot more for this team to give.”