Ireland 1 Scotland 2

The Republic of Ireland lost 2-1 against a Don Hutchison-inspired Scotland at Lansdowne Road last night despite taking the lead after two minutes. To read anything into the result would be foolhardy as the Irish team that manager Mick McCarthy was forced into fielding was unrecognisable from his usual line-up. Scotland also reckoned that they were under strength but to the layman they looked to have the first-pick team on the field.

Ireland took the lead in the second minute when Mark Kennedy's 25-yard free kick took a wicked deflection off Craig Burley giving Neil Sullivan no chance. Scotland steadied the ship and hit back in the 16th minute through Everton's Don Hutchison.

The Irish attacked from a corner but Scotland won the ball and broke. Craig Burley found space on the right and hit a diagonal ball across the field to the feet of Neil McCann. McCann waited a second and then released the ball to Don Hutchison in front of goal and the Everton man made no mistake as he beat Alan Kelly from close range.

Scotland won the game with their second goal in the 28th minute. Hutchison was again instrumental. He picked up the ball wide on the right and skinned Phil Babb before driving a shot-cum-cross in the danger zone. McCann challenged for the ball at the far post and his determination paid off as he got a slight touch to direct it back across goal to give his Rangers team-mate Barry Ferguson his first international goal.

It is hard to know what lessons McCarthy learned from this pointless game apart from debuts for Stephen McPhail and Dominic Foley. His finishing line-up of Alan Kelly in goal and Babb, Richard Dunne, Stephen Carr and Terry Phelan in front of him; Jason McAteer, Kevin Kilbane, Damien Duff and Steve Finnan in midfield; and Robbie Keane and Dominic Foley could only be called a 'B' team at best. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of World Cup qualification there are only four of that team who would be certain of getting a game.