Scotland 0-1 Northern Ireland: Liverpool’s Conor Bradley scores in surprise win at Hampden

Nick McPheat
BBC Scotland at Hampden

Even 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.