Scotland 0 - 0 Northern Ireland

Scotland 0-0 N Ireland

Updated: August 20, 2008, 8:00 AM UK

George Burley was left still seeking his first win as Scotland manager heading into next month's World Cup qualifiers after being held to a goalless stalemate by Northern Ireland at Hampden.

Previous encounters against Croatia and the Czech Republic had yielded a draw and a defeat respectively ahead of tonight's clash, with a crucial double-header against Macedonia and Iceland looming.

• Evans hails gameplan

The Scots' cause was aided when Ryan McGivern was dismissed early in the second half, but it was the Irish who could have claimed the win had David Healy successfully converted from the penalty spot.

Positives? Burley was able to name star man James McFadden for the first time since taking over as national team manager, while several players made their international debuts.

It was clear right from the outset there would be nothing friendly about this international when 'God Save the Queen' was jeered by the home crowd ahead of kick-off, an act which would have been disheartening for the 7,000 Northern Ireland fans who made the trip.

Once under way, Darren Fletcher was the first to have a go for the Scots, firing wide under pressure from Chris Baird, before debutant Kevin Thomson dragged his shot past the post from long range.

Burley was keen to see McFadden in a Scotland shirt after he had missed the last two games through injury and the Birmingham forward was involved in most of the home side's attacks.

He set up Kenny Miller for the shot in front of goal but Sammy Clingan was first to the ball to clear the danger before the Rangers striker could pull the trigger.

Manchester City's McGivern made his debut for the Irish and quickly became embroiled in a personal battle with Scott Brown, escaping punishment for an earlier challenge before earning the first booking of the game for a second foul on the Celtic midfielder.

McFadden then had a decent chance when he controlled a long ball from Thomson on his chest before squeezing a shot between two white jerseys but the end product was weak and comfortably held by goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

At the other end, the visitors looked dangerous when Chris Brunt slipped a pass through to Healy but his right-footed drive curled just over the crossbar as a disappointing first half ended goalless.

Darren Barr became the first Falkirk player in almost 50 years to represent Scotland when he was thrown into the action after the break, along with goalkeeper Allan McGregor and midfielder Barry Robson.

It was Robson who almost had an immediate impact on the game with a superbly struck effort from distance, which whistled inches over the crossbar.

McGivern had looked assured in the left-back berth but the 18-year-old's debut quickly turned into a night to forget when he was sent off with 56 minutes gone for a second bookable offence after hauling down Brown just outside the box.

There was further drama just three minutes later when McGregor conceded a penalty by felling substitute Warren Feeney in the area only to make amends seconds later by diving to his right to pull off an excellent save to deny Healy's spot-kick.

Evans hails gameplan

Man of the match Jonny Evans hailed the tactics which secured Northern Ireland a goalless draw against Scotland tonight - a gameplan he believes will boost their World Cup qualification hopes.

The visitors kept a creditable clean sheet at Hampden Park, and could even have stolen victory had David Healy converted a second-half penalty.

It was both sides' final warm-up match before the World Cup qualifiers begin next month.

Praising manager Nigel Worthington's 4-5-1 formation, Manchester United youngster Evans said on Sky Sports 1: 'We came here to do a job. We've had a bit of a bad run away from home over the last couple of years. That's just the history of Northern Ireland.

'Nigel and the rest of the team sat down earlier in the week and worked out a way to go away from home to pick up some valuable points in the up-and-coming qualifiers.

'Since I've come into the squad, there's been a tremendous work ethic. The lads all fight for each other. There's good team spirit.'

Evans might have conceded a penalty had the officials ruled a handball deliberate.

'It caught my thumb,' he said. 'I've got a sore thumb but I didn't know anything about it so got away with it.'

David Healy revealed he felt tired after a lack of match action for Fulham recently.

'I haven't played many pre-season games,' he said.

'Nigel wanted us to come away from home, dig in. We've done that and we could have nicked it.

'(I) missed a penalty, Allan McGregor made a good save. I think he's made his name the past couple of years making outstanding saves from the penalty spot.

'He chose right, I chose wrong.'

Healy is reportedly on the brink of joining Sunderland but he refused to confirm he was signing, saying: 'As of now, I'm still a Fulham player but we'll see what happens.'

Scotland striker James McFadden felt his side had the better of the game.

He said: 'We played well at times - we just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net.

'We played a lot better than them and that's why they're maybe happy with a draw.'

Of the service he and strike partner Kenny Miller received, he added: 'At times, it was hard. It was a good exercise for the boys. We played a bit different to how we've done before.

'I would have liked to have seen a bit more but maybe that's down to me and not down to other players.'

Opposite number George Burley was pleased with the workout and felt his side were just lacking a cutting edge.

'It was a good exercise,' Burley said. 'We were able to blood one or two new players. We had a look at some partnerships, passed it quite well at times.

'It was just a little bit of the cutting edge. We had one or two opportunities and you're looking to take them

'When they go down to 10 men, they'll sit in there and that's when you've got to take your chances.

'We certainly learned a lot. International football is not easy.

'Northern Ireland came here and made it difficult for us.'

He added: 'We've still got a lot to work at but the attitude and commitment was there.'