Scotland and Northern Ireland renewed old acquaintances at Hampden Park as both teams fought out a goalless draw in the last match for both sides before the real action starts on September 6th with an away World Cup qualifier against Macedonia.

Our friends from across the water, came across in their thousands to cheer their country with good humour and fun but they were intend on seeing their heroes grabbing a win at Hampden,if they could.

As the teams were announced the Irish fans took great delight in cheering the Rangers players in the Scotland team (with the exception of Kenny Miller!) and booing the Celtic players in the side, all to be expected and all harmless fun.

The major talking point before the match started(and after it finished)was a section of the Scotland support booing the Irish national anthem,” God Save The Queen”.

Now, this is not the first time this has happened at Hampden Park but because it was the national anthem of Britain also their has been a wee bit of a” situation” and the Irish FA are not best pleased with the lack of respect shown.

Without getting into a whole and unnecessary argument on the thing, freedom of speech is a wonderful thing in this country but maybe when it comes to our countries national anthems, silence maybe really should be golden!

We have a slogan here” One Nation Many Cultures” thus meaning all are welcome in this country but only a fool would not have known that this was going to happen, it would have been the same had it have been the Republic of Ireland, need I say more?

It would be a shame if this spoiled the good relations that not only both FA’s have but the good banter between the fans also, who have been coming to watch Celtic and Rangers and others from Northern Ireland for many years to follow their chosen teams.

The best policy at International matches during the playing of the national anthems would be,” Stay Silent” no matter if you agree or disagree with the chosen tune, it only lasts for a few minutes!

Unfortunately during the match the fans really never had much to shout about either and boos were heard at the end of the match also!

Both George Burley and Nigel Worthington took the chance to give some new faces a chance to stake a claim for places in future squad’s.

Nigel Worthington gave young full back Ryan McGivern from Manchester City and he would have a debut that he would want to forget!  George Burley on the other hand let Darren Barr (Falkirk) and Kris Commons (Derby County) take their places on the bench before introducing both players in the second half.

Both teams were hit by call off’s before the match so we knew that these would not be full strength sides and as the match was build as a” friendly” international so it was hoped that with nothing at stake but pride, that this would be an entertaining encounter.

The first half had few real chances as the Scots failed to break a well organised Irish side down, although James McFadden did show a few glimpses of real class and on the one occasion that he did manage to get passed the Irish defence his tame shot ended up safely in the arms of his Birmingham team mate and Northern Ireland goal keeper Maik Taylor.

Scotland did make good use of the ball in mid-field with former Hibernian pair Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown linking up well with Morrison and Fletcher.

Indeed the performance of Scott Brown was a major plus for not only George Burley but Scott Brown himself, as the player has had to put a series on heartbreaks behind him, both on and off the pitch.

Indeed Ryan McGivern paid a little too much attention to Brown in the first half and was booked for a crude challenge on the Scotland mid-fielder.

Scotland made three changes at half time and they were,

McGregor on for Gordon

Barr on for McManus

Robson on for Thomson

Northern Ireland made one change bringing on Dean Shiels for Martin Paterson

Barry Robson had the Scots first chance of the second half when he shot over the bar from distance.

The Irish would soon be down to ten men after a great run by Scott Brown was halted by Ryan McGivern who pulled on his jersey giving referee Nicolai Vollquartz

No option but to give the youngster his marching orders to end his debut.

McFadden took the resulting free kick but hit the ball into the waiting arms of Taylor.

Nigel Worthington made a change by bringing on Feeney to add to their attacking options as Scotland looked to be the side most likely to scoring.

Scotland were pressing for the opener and it was again that man McFadden who almost provided it but his curling shot went wide.

The Irish almost stunned the Scots as they broke up field and it was substitute Feeney who raced on to a through ball and he was upended by McGregor as he raced in on goal.

The Irish fans celebrated as if they had already scored the penalty and it was their hero David Healy who would face the man who has a big reputation for saving penalties and indeed it was the same end he helped Rangers win the CIS Cup by being a hero during their shoot out v Dundee United and he had already saved a penalty at Falkirk on the first day of the season.

McGregor would make amends for his error by making a great save from Healy’s penalty to keep the match level.

Scotland would then give Kris Commons his chance to earn his first cap and show what he could do.

The Scotland fans breathed a sigh of relief and they urged their team forward as the match was drawing to a close.

Set pieces were proving a real danger for Scotland and with Barry Robson whipping in quality balls and they almost made the break through.

Darren Barr’s head met a corner but again Taylor was in the right place at the right time as he smothered the ball in his arms on the line.

Scotland then thought that they should have had a penalty of their own as the impressive Commons crossed into the box and the ball seemed to strike Jonathan Evans on the left arm but nothing was given.

The Scots were pushing for a winner now and another cross with flicked on by Barr to McFadden at the far post but somehow his volley was stopped on the line by the reactions of Taylor.

The Scotland front man had tried everything to beat his Birmingham team mate but each time the big keeper was there to foil him.

As Scotland attacked for the final time, it would be a shot from long distance by Graham Alexander that would test Taylor and the big keeper did well to get his fingers to the full back’s 25 yard shot and it flew past the post, just a pity the officials did not see the big Irishman’s save as he did not even award Scotland a corner!

The Irish had held Scotland with ten men and again the home support again showed their disapproval.

In truth both sides were happy to settle for a draw and no injuries in the build up to their World Cup matches and hopefully both sides along with Wales, EnglandRepublic of Ireland make it to South Africa 2010. and the

Both managers can be pleased with the contributions of players such as Taylor, Evans,

Craigan, Davis, Paterson, Duff on the Northern Ireland side and Thomson, Brown, McFadden, McGregor, Robson, Commons, Barr on the Scotland side.

Despite the abuse that Kenny Miller receives, he still gives his all and deserves a great deal of credit for this.

Many folk have moaned and groaned about the performance and the fact that George Burley has yet to record a win but all good things come to those who wait, let’s hope the waiting is over on September 6th!

Sean Graham

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