We knew things would be tight in group D of the Euro 2016 qualifiers and last night’s game in Glasgow very much proved that.
Shaun Maloney’s superb strike 15 minutes from time gave Scotland a 1-0 win and moved them level on 7 points with the Republic of Ireland and Germany but it’s Poland who lead the way on 10 points.
Scotland had the better of the first-half at Celtic Park last night so Martin O’Neill would have been happy to get in at half time with no damage done.
The Boys in Green came out stronger in the second half and as the game wore on you sensed one goal would be enough to win the game.
Unfortunately for Ireland it came from the home side in the 75th minute from Maloney but Ireland almost snatched a late point when Grant Hanley headed the ball onto his own bar from a Robbie Brady free kick in injury time.
O’Neill surprised many by dropping Robbie Keane in favour of Shane Long and it was the first time in 13 years Keane had been benched for a competitive game,
The Ireland boss explained his decision after the game and also said they can’t dwell on the defeat with four home games to come in 2015:
Robbie Keane came off the bench not long after Scotland scored so naturally he was disappointed with the result but he accepted O’Neill’s call to leave him out:
