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| Scotland and Christophe Berra leave it late to secure win against Northern Ireland | Scotland and Christophe Berra leave it late to secure win against Northern Ireland |
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| Scotland’s efforts to reach a first major tournament in 18 years will resume on Sunday when Gordon Strachan’s side host Gibraltar but on the evidence of their first match after a four-month break there is plenty to be worked out of their system before then. | Scotland’s efforts to reach a first major tournament in 18 years will resume on Sunday when Gordon Strachan’s side host Gibraltar but on the evidence of their first match after a four-month break there is plenty to be worked out of their system before then. |
| In the grand record of Strachan’s steady transformation of the national team, a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland will hardly register, but then it was never meant to. The Scotland manager’s insistence beforehand that this match was preparation for the Euro 2016 qualifier was prescient, because little else could be taken from this performance. | In the grand record of Strachan’s steady transformation of the national team, a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland will hardly register, but then it was never meant to. The Scotland manager’s insistence beforehand that this match was preparation for the Euro 2016 qualifier was prescient, because little else could be taken from this performance. |
| Much of the buildup had focused on who would take the goalkeeper’s shirt, with Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor and David Marshall all holding decent claims, yet there was not to be much attention on the Scotland No1 once play started. The home side dominated from the first whistle in what was something of a drill before Sunday’s firing range. | |
| Steven Fletcher, the lone frontman in the 4-2-3-1 formation, came close to finding a breakthrough with only three minutes gone, firing on target from a tight angle. Michael McGovern was quick to save with his legs, however, sending the ball spinning over his own crossbar. | Steven Fletcher, the lone frontman in the 4-2-3-1 formation, came close to finding a breakthrough with only three minutes gone, firing on target from a tight angle. Michael McGovern was quick to save with his legs, however, sending the ball spinning over his own crossbar. |
| Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie was handed a debut on the right side of the Scotland attack, but it was down the left where much of their first-half play could be found as Ikechi Anya – the Watford winger who seems to reserve his best form for international duty – threatened, forcing McGovern to tip round his near post with one effort, and shooting wide of the same post with another after 22 minutes. | Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie was handed a debut on the right side of the Scotland attack, but it was down the left where much of their first-half play could be found as Ikechi Anya – the Watford winger who seems to reserve his best form for international duty – threatened, forcing McGovern to tip round his near post with one effort, and shooting wide of the same post with another after 22 minutes. |
| The presence of Fletcher up front was tempting Scotland into a more direct approach, and he was presented with perhaps the best chance of the first half just before the interval, spinning in behind the defence to take a Shaun Maloney through ball, but could not finish. | The presence of Fletcher up front was tempting Scotland into a more direct approach, and he was presented with perhaps the best chance of the first half just before the interval, spinning in behind the defence to take a Shaun Maloney through ball, but could not finish. |
| Steven Naismith was introduced at the interval – along with Berra and McGregor – to provide Fletcher with support, and made an immediate impact. The Everton man – whose aerial threat belies his physical stature –met a Craig Forsyth cross from the by-line with his head, glancing just over the near post. | Steven Naismith was introduced at the interval – along with Berra and McGregor – to provide Fletcher with support, and made an immediate impact. The Everton man – whose aerial threat belies his physical stature –met a Craig Forsyth cross from the by-line with his head, glancing just over the near post. |
| However, such a start to the second half was to be misleading as both sides slipped into the sort of monotony that can afflict friendlies. But with the match apparently petering out towards a meek conclusion the breakthrough was finally made when Berra met an excellent Ritchie corner to head home the winner. | However, such a start to the second half was to be misleading as both sides slipped into the sort of monotony that can afflict friendlies. But with the match apparently petering out towards a meek conclusion the breakthrough was finally made when Berra met an excellent Ritchie corner to head home the winner. |