Bradley’s first NI goal extends Scotland’s winless run
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.
Live: Follow all the best reaction from HampdenThe best Scotland analysis & reactionAll the latest NI news from BBC SportBut 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.
In the previous encounter between these two in March 2015, it was Northern Ireland who were warming up for a European Championship against a Scotland side looking to revitalise itself. This time, roles were reversed.
You would not have known that on the basis of this meeting, though. Scotland lacked ideas. Northern Ireland had a gameplan that worked to a tee.
O’Neill’s side were compact from front to back, affording the frustrated Scots very little space to penetrate passes and reducing them to shots from distance from Ryan Christie and Scott McTominay, both of whom should have done better.
The visitors, whose only shot on target was their goal, were happy to sit back on their lead after the break – and why not?
It was a formula that worked for O’Neill and his players, who celebrated a first away win in more than a year in front of a wild away support at full time. Try telling them it was just a friendly.
Player of the match – Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland)Northern Ireland, and Liverpool, have a gem on their hands in this young man – endless energy, versatile and superb quality on the ballO’Neill making mark again as Scots struggle for momentum – analysisEven amid the boos at Hampden, most of the Tartan Army will find it difficult to be too hard on a team and manager who are comfortably the most successful Scotland team of the past 25 years.
But there are real concerns for Clarke, whose side look to have taken a backwards step after such a stellar qualifying campaign.
Friendlies or not, these games were vital if Scotland want to avoid a second straight disappointment at a second straight Euros.
The injury to Robertson is a obvious worry, but so is a serious lack of pace in attacking areas. Much is made of a lack of clinical edge from the strikers, but arguably just as glaring is a shortage of forwards who can stretch play.
As for Northern Ireland, they do not have a summer in Germany to look forward to, but their manager is demonstrating his credentials again as his second stint clicks into gear.
Bradley will be the poster boy for this young squad, but there is more than the Liverpool man to be inspired by in this team, who must now build on three very impressive results against Denmark, Romania and Scotland.
Match statsNorthern Ireland earned their win in Scotland in 11 attempts, since a 1-0 victory in May 1974. It is also just the second time that they have managed to score during that run, after a 1-1 draw in March 1981.Scotland are winless in each of their last seven games (D2 L5) – their worst run since August 2004-March 2005. It is also the first time they have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven consecutive games since March 2017.Scotland have won just one of their previous 13 friendlies (D3 L9), and have lost each of their last five.Northern Ireland managed just four shots – their fewest in their last 12 games. It was the fewest they have had in a victory since March 2018 (four shots v South Korea).Conor Bradley scored his first Northern Ireland goal on his 15th appearance. He is the youngest Northern Irishman to score in Scotland (20y 261d) since George Best in November 1964 (18y 187d).Bradley’s goal made him the second Liverpool player to score for Northern Ireland, after Billy Lacey against England in February 1914.Stuart Armstrong is the fourth player to win his 50th Scotland cap in a match against a fellow British home nation, after George Young in 1956 (v Northern Ireland), Kenny Dalglish in 1977 (v Wales) and Joe Jordan in 1982 (v Wales).What’s next? Scotland return to action in June with two final Euro 2024 warm-up games with Gibraltar and Finland. Northern Ireland do not play again until a double-header with Luxembourg and Bulgaria kicks off their Nations League campaign.
Line-upsScotlandFormation 3-4-2-1
1Gunn13Hendry5Cooper6Tierney22Patterson4McTominay14GilmourBooked at 55minsSubstituted forMcLeanat 70’minutes3RobertsonSubstituted forFergusonat 37’minutes7McGinnSubstituted forS Armstrongat 78’minutes11ChristieSubstituted forShanklandat 78’minutes9DykesSubstituted forAdamsat 70’minutesSubstitutes2Ralston10Adams12Kelly15Porteous16Souttar17S Armstrong18Shankland19Ferguson20Taylor21Clark23McLean24GordonNorthern IrelandFormation 5-4-1
1Peacock-Farrell3Hume4Ballard17McNair5Toal20Spencer2BradleySubstituted forSmythat 83’minutes16McCannBooked at 21minsSubstituted forThompsonat 87’minutes19Charles14PriceSubstituted forMcMenaminat 83’minutes10ReidSubstituted forMagennisat 57’minutesSubstitutes6Donnelly7McMenamin8Marshall9Lavery11Smyth12Hazard13Lane15Thompson18Boyd-Munce21Magennis22Brown23SouthwoodMatch StatsLive TextMatch ends, Scotland 0, Northern Ireland 1.
Second Half ends, Scotland 0, Northern Ireland 1.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Paddy McNair.
Attempt missed. Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
Attempt blocked. Ché Adams (Scotland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
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.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Jordan Thompson replaces Ali McCann.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Paul Smyth replaces Conor Bradley.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Conor McMenamin replaces Isaac Price.
Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenny McLean with a headed pass.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Eoin Toal.
Substitution, Scotland. Lawrence Shankland replaces Ryan Christie.
Substitution, Scotland. Stuart Armstrong replaces John McGinn.
Lewis Ferguson (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland).
Kenny McLean (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Isaac Price.
Substitution, Scotland. Kenny McLean replaces Billy Gilmour.
Player of the match
BradleyConor Bradley
with an average of 8.02
Squad number6Player nameTierney
Squad number19Player nameFerguson
Squad number1Player nameGunn
Squad number23Player nameMcLean
Squad number11Player nameChristie
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number3Player nameRobertson
Squad number4Player nameMcTominay
Squad number14Player nameGilmour
Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
Squad number5Player nameCooper
Squad number10Player nameAdams
Squad number18Player nameShankland
Squad number13Player nameHendry
Squad number9Player nameDykes
Squad number22Player namePatterson
Northern IrelandSquad number2Player nameBradley
Squad number4Player nameBallard
Squad number20Player nameSpencer
Squad number3Player nameHume
Squad number5Player nameToal
Squad number19Player nameCharles
Squad number17Player nameMcNair
Squad number16Player nameMcCann
Squad number1Player namePeacock-Farrell
Squad number14Player namePrice
Squad number7Player nameMcMenamin
Squad number10Player nameReid
Squad number11Player nameSmyth
Squad number15Player nameThompson
Squad number21Player nameMagennis
