Conor Bradley’s first Northern Ireland goal drained more life out of Scotland’s Euro 2024 preparations at Hampden by extending their winless run to seven games.
The 20-year-old Liverpool full-back, playing in a more advanced role, added another personal milestone in a dream breakout season by dipping a deflected first-half winner into the top-right corner.
Nathan Patterson’s cheap error in the build-up epitomised a poor showing from Steve Clarke’s Germany-bound side, who were lucky to avoid conceding again before the break when Shea Charles somehow curled wide from close range.
A laboured first-half display from the hosts, during which they failed to register a shot on target despite having much more of the ball, was compounded by a suspected ankle injury suffered by captain Andy Robertson.
Lewis Ferguson, the Liverpool left-back’s replacement, had a close-range effort blocked shortly after the break and a late header tipped over just moments before Lawrence Shankland looped one of his own off target.
But Clarke’s men did not show enough improvement and imagination in the second half to break down Michael O’Neill’s well-drilled away side, who are now unbeaten in their last three games.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Scotland
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Gunn
- 13Hendry
- 5Cooper
- 6Tierney
- 22Patterson
- 4McTominay
- 14GilmourBooked at 55minsSubstituted forMcLeanat 70′minutes
- 3RobertsonSubstituted forFergusonat 37′minutes
- 7McGinnSubstituted forS Armstrongat 78′minutes
- 11ChristieSubstituted forShanklandat 78′minutes
- 9DykesSubstituted forAdamsat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ralston
- 10Adams
- 12Kelly
- 15Porteous
- 16Souttar
- 17S Armstrong
- 18Shankland
- 19Ferguson
- 20Taylor
- 21Clark
- 23McLean
- 24Gordon
Northern Ireland
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 3Hume
- 4Ballard
- 17McNair
- 5Toal
- 20Spencer
- 2BradleySubstituted forSmythat 83′minutes
- 16McCannBooked at 21minsSubstituted forThompsonat 87′minutes
- 19Charles
- 14PriceSubstituted forMcMenaminat 83′minutes
- 10ReidSubstituted forMagennisat 57′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Donnelly
- 7McMenamin
- 8Marshall
- 9Lavery
- 11Smyth
- 12Hazard
- 13Lane
- 15Thompson
- 18Boyd-Munce
- 21Magennis
- 22Brown
- 23Southwood
Live Text
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Match ends, Scotland 0, Northern Ireland 1.
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Second Half ends, Scotland 0, Northern Ireland 1.
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Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Paddy McNair.
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Attempt missed. Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
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Attempt blocked. Ché Adams (Scotland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
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Attempt saved. Lewis Ferguson (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ché Adams with a headed pass.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland. Jordan Thompson replaces Ali McCann.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland. Paul Smyth replaces Conor Bradley.
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Substitution, Northern Ireland. Conor McMenamin replaces Isaac Price.
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Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenny McLean with a headed pass.
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Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Eoin Toal.
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Substitution, Scotland. Lawrence Shankland replaces Ryan Christie.
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Substitution, Scotland. Stuart Armstrong replaces John McGinn.
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Lewis Ferguson (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland).
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Kenny McLean (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
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Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Isaac Price.
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Substitution, Scotland. Kenny McLean replaces Billy Gilmour.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Scotland
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Squad number1Player nameGunn
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Squad number13Player nameHendry
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Squad number5Player nameCooper
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Squad number6Player nameTierney
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Squad number22Player namePatterson
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Squad number4Player nameMcTominay
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Squad number14Player nameGilmour
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Squad number3Player nameRobertson
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
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Squad number11Player nameChristie
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Squad number9Player nameDykes
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Squad number10Player nameAdams
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Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
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Squad number18Player nameShankland
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Squad number19Player nameFerguson
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Squad number23Player nameMcLean
Northern Ireland
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Squad number1Player namePeacock-Farrell
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Squad number3Player nameHume
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Squad number4Player nameBallard
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Squad number17Player nameMcNair
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Squad number5Player nameToal
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Squad number20Player nameSpencer
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Squad number2Player nameBradley
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Squad number16Player nameMcCann
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Squad number19Player nameCharles
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Squad number14Player namePrice
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Squad number10Player nameReid
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Squad number7Player nameMcMenamin
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Squad number11Player nameSmyth
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Squad number15Player nameThompson
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Squad number21Player nameMagennis
Source Agencies
