Category: Scotland

Conor Bradley’s deflected effort into the top corner was the difference as Northern Ireland stunned Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park.

The Liverpool right-back’s 32nd-minute strike was what separated the two sides in a game that Steve Clarke’s home side dominated, but rarely threatened.

It was a game of half-chances as an impatient Hampden faithful sought to suck the ball into Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s net, but the closest the Scots came was Scott McTominay’s speculative effort from range in the final minute of the first-half, and Lawrence Shankland’s blast that was blocked by Brodie Spencer in the 79th minute.

Peacock-Farrell was called into action for the first proper time on 90 minutes as three Scotland substitutes linked up, with Stuart Armstrong’s cross from the left helped on at the front post by Che Adams, and a flying Lewis Ferguson header forced the former Leeds United goalkeeper into a fine reflex stop.

Just moments later, Lawrence Shankland latched onto a hopeful Kieran Tierney punt, with the ball bouncing favourably for the striker, who beat the onrushing Peacock-Farrell to it, but he could only direct the header over the top of the crossbar as the home side continued to frustrate.

Of course, it’s hard when your two best players in recent years are both left-backs, and the only way to crowbar both Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney into one team is to play a back three.

But against a Northern Ireland side fully intent on shutting up shop in a rigid 5-4-1, the hosts needed more impetus in possession – which they had plenty of – to break their opposition down.

Far too many times did they stroke the ball from side to side without really looking to penetrate the space between the defensive lines, until a formation shift, forced by Robertson’s injury, changed the Scots’ playstyle.

Lewis Ferguson, the Bologna midfielder, played in the number 10 hole that he has impressed massively in in Serie A this term, and his willingness to link play and run beyond Lyndon Dykes, who was isolated at times, gave the hosts another dimension.

They just lacked that killer instinct that could hurt them in these tight affairs, especially when it comes to the crunch moments at the big tournaments.

Let’s see how it affects them.

Player of the match – Conor Bradley, Northern Ireland

Fast becoming his nation’s talisman at the spritely age of 20, the right-back played a more disciplined role on the right side of a midfield four, but took his one opportunity to steal the headlines.

He hardly touched the ball, but on the rare occasion that he did get it, he showed his quality with direct running, intricate interplay, and a touch of class for his goal, albeit with a slight deflection to take it beyond Angus Gunn.

A star in the making.

Player ratings

Scotland: Gunn 6, Hendry 6, Cooper 6, Tierney 6, Patterson 5, Gilmour 6, McTominay 6, Robertson 6, McGinn 6, Christie 6, Dykes 6. Substitutes: Ferguson 7, Adams 6, McLean 6, Armstrong 7, Shankland 6.

Northern Ireland: P-Farrell 6, Ballard 7, Toal 7, McNair 6, Spencer 6, McCann 6, Charles 7, Hume 6, Bradley 8, Reid 5, Price 6. Substitutes: Magennis 6, McMenamin 6, Smyth 6, Thompson 6.

Match highlights

32’: GOAL! SCOTLAND 0-1 NORTHERN IRELAND Well, that was not in the script! Conor Bradley fires it into the top corner, and Northern Ireland are ahead at Hampden. Patterson loses the ball initially, and then loses it once more in the box. Bradley finds himself on the left, and cuts inside, looking to curl one, and it nicks off Jack Hendry to loop over Gunn.

43’: CLOSE! Shea Charles had to score there! A long punt forward from Spencer finds Price, who touches it down neatly for Charles, who hurtles into the box from midfield in support. He cuts inside of Cooper, but can only sidefoot the ball wide of the far corner!

82’: WHAT A BLOCK! The corner comes out to Armstrong, whose shot ensues a ricocheting pinball in the box, before coming out to Shankland who swipes at it, and forces a great block from Spencer!

90’: GREAT SAVE! Armstrong crosses from the left, Adams helps it on, and Ferguson comes crashing in, and his header forces a great reflex stop from Peacock-Farrell!

90’: CLOSE! Tierney hopefully punts one forward into the box and it bounces favourably for Shankland, who beats the onrushing goalkeeper to it, but he can only steer the header over the top!