Žigić and Novakovič satisfied with score draw

Nikola Žigić and Milivoje Novakovič exchanged goals as Serbia and Slovenia drew 1-1 in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group C – a result both strikers felt was fair.

Novakovič put the visitors ahead not long past the hour mark in Belgrade but with four minutes left Žigić ensured a share of the points. That kept Serbia unbeaten going into next month's matches, when they welcome Estonia before visiting Italy, but Žigić, who also scored late in Friday's 3-0 win in the Faroe Islands, was slightly frustrated not to claim a second maximum haul.

"I am satisfied about getting a very important goal for the team, but I am sad because our fans deserved to celebrate a victory," said the centre-forward, now at Birmingham City FC. "We need to be optimistic. UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying has just started and we still have a chance to achieve our aims in this campaign."

Centre-back Nemanja Vidić, who like Žigić won his 50th cap this week, concurred. "It is true we came close to completely turning the game but, in the end, the draw was a fair result," the Manchester United FC man said. "We did not win as expected, but I still believe we can succeed in this campaign."

Slovenia had drawn all four of their matches with either the former Yugoslavia or Serbia and Montenegro – the last three by a 1-1 scoreline – and this latest tie ensured Matjaž Kek's side ended the week with heads high, having previously lost at home to Northern Ireland. Novakovič, while frustrated not to have converted Slovenia's lead into a victory, sounded a positive note.

"We could have won because we missed two or three excellent chances," the 1. FC Köln attacker said. "But this result is important for us after the defeat by Northern Ireland in our first game. Serbia are favourites in Group C but it is too early to speak about the end of campaign. Anything is possible."

Goalkeeper Samir Handanovič, who performed well to keep Serbia out before the break, had mixed feelings. "We were the better team and deserved the three points," he said. "In the end, though, this was important for us after an unacceptable defeat in Maribor against Northern Ireland. The key games are still to come." Slovenia play the Faroe Islands on 8 October and travel to Estonia four days later.