Burley still in spot of bother despite Healy penalty miss

International
Scotland 0
Northern Ireland 0

* Ewan Murray at Hampden Park
* The Guardian,
* Thursday August 21 2008

Even 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.

Burley can legitimately point to the absence of key performers - Alan Hutton, Paul Hartley and Barry Ferguson among them - but this showing raised more questions than supplied answers. Guile, worryingly for the Scotland manager, was among the aspects so noticeably lacking in his players' display. Burley is still without a victory after three games and seven months in charge of the Scots.

Nigel Worthington, conversely, 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.

Burley's pre-match promise of adventure was tempered slightly by a late injury problem sustained by Barry Robson, a blister on the Celtic midfielder's foot becoming infected. Kevin Thomson, a considerably less potent attacking threat, stepped in for his first cap. Scotland's manager had been boosted by the return of James McFadden to the international fold, the Birmingham City striker having missed his country's previous two outings because of injury. McFadden, whose cult status among the Tartan Army is somewhat out of sync with his recent achievements at club level, was handed a free role behind Kenny Miller in the home attack.

Northern Ireland, similarly, could not be accused of arriving at Hampden Park with negative tactics in mind. Martin Paterson and Chris Brunt supplied wide support for David Healy, another iconic figure of the international game. While conspicuous for neat passing, the opening half offered little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. A 20-yard race between Miller and Johnny Evans to collect a fine James Morrison through ball was won by the Manchester United defender, before McFadden shot tamely at Maik Taylor. Healy, in reply, scooped over Craig Gordon's crossbar from 22 yards.

Despite the manager's noticeable urging of the Scottish team forward, even when not in possession, they lacked the spark normally provided by McFadden to meaningfully impose themselves on proceedings. His 40th-minute overhit pass, intended for Miller, rather summed things up.

Robson stepped from the substitutes' bench to replace 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 Allan McGregor clipped the substitute Warren Feeney. 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.

Matters returned to their hitherto sluggish level thereafter. 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. Northern Ireland, who travel to Slovakia on September 6, will be the more content to have seen out scoreless parity even if, but for McGregor's interventions, they could have extended Scotland's friendly anguish in more definitive fashion.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer