Scotland 0 Northern Ireland 0EVEN GEORGE Burley, who has optimistically spoken of Scotland's aspirations of qualification for the 2010 World Cup, would struggle to take positive results from this encounter. Scotland, without a friendly victory at Hampden Park in a staggering 12 years, showed little sign of ending that miserable run against Northern Ireland last night.
Nigel Worthington can take satisfaction from Northern Ireland's robust showing which, but for a missed penalty kick, may have returned victory. The Irish even played the remaining 35 minutes with 10 men; onlookers could reasonably have suggested half of that number would have been adequate to keep an impotent Scotland at bay.
While conspicuous for neat passing, the opening half offered little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. A 20-yard race between Kenny Miller and Johnny Evans to collect a fine James Morrison through ball was won by the Manchester United defender, before James McFadden shot tamely at Maik Taylor. Healy, in reply, scooped over Craig Gordon's crossbar from 22 yards.
Barry Robson stepped from the substitutes' bench to replace Kevin Thomson during the interval, Scotland's lack of creativity obviously not lost on their manager. The substitute came within inches of reinvigorating a stale encounter almost immediately with a fierce, long-range drive.
Controversy, mercifully for neutral observers, followed. Sammy Clingan, who had received a first-half booking for a late challenge on Scott Brown, hauled down the midfielder once again when bearing down on goal. A red card for the Irish player was inevitable, even in such low-key surroundings.
Within 60 seconds, the visitors had been afforded a rare sight of goal, and from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Allan McGregor clipped the substitute Warren Feeney.
David Healy, normally such a composed figure in the green and white of his country, watched his spot-kick superbly saved by McGregor, who even held the striker's low attempt.
Burley now has plenty to ponder before a World Cup qualifying campaign opens with an away double-header against Macedonia and Iceland early next month.
SCOTLAND:Gordon, Alexander, McManus, Weir, Naysmith, Brown, Thomson, Darren Fletcher, Morrison, Miller, McFadden. Subs: McGregor, Marshall, Whittaker, Robson, Commons, Berra, Barr, Boyd, Steven Fletcher, Stewart, Clarkson.
NORTHERN IRELAND:Taylor, McAuley, Evans, Craigan, McGivern, Baird, Clingan, Davis, Brunt, Healy, Paterson. Subs: Mannus, Duff, O'Connor, Shiels, Feeney.
Referee:Nicolai Vollquartz (Denmark)
Guardian Service
