Berra heads Scotland to win over Northern Ireland

Christophe Berra headed a late winner as Scotland beat Northern Ireland in Wednesday's international friendly at Hampden Park.

Both sides had half an eye on challenges ahead, with Scotland taking on Gibraltar and Northern Ireland meeting Finland in Euro 2016 qualifiers on Sunday, but managers Gordon Strachan and Michael O'Neill can take positives from a low-key friendly short on goalmouth action.

Scotland go into Sunday's match at Hampden Park in third place in Group D with just one defeat, away to world champions Germany, from their opening four matches.

Northern Ireland sit second in Group F with three wins, against Hungary, the Faroe Islands and Greece, from their opening four qualifiers.

Ikechi Anya showed real intent down the right for Scotland in the first half, and Strachan will hope the Watford winger can replicate that form against the Group D minnows at the weekend, while O'Neill will be delighted by the performances of his rusty centre-back pairing of Jonny Evans and Aaron Hughes.

Evans has not featured since 4 March following a six-week ban for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss Cisse, while Hughes has been out of favour at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Hughes, winning his 95th cap at Hampden Park, was a solid presence at the back but he should perhaps have done better on the only goal of the game, as he allowed Berra to climb above him to head home Matt Ritchie's 85th-minute corner.

Before a raft of second-half substitutions disfigured the match, Scotland produced the more flowing football, and Northern Ireland were indebted to their goalkeeper Michael McGovern for a series of first-half saves to deny Steven Fletcher and Anya.

4' – SAVE! McGovern makes a good flick over at his near post from Steven Fletcher's shot following Anya's incisive run down the left.

8' – SAVE! Evans concedes a corner under pressure from Richie down the right. The ball comes to Anya from the second ball as Darren Fletcher mops up, but McGovern makes another fine save, this time low to his right.

13' – CHANCE! Evans tries a cross-field ball that is headed down by Magennis, but Norwood's effort from the right channel sails over.

22' – CHANCE! Anya shoots wide of the post rather than shooting across goal from McArthur's pass down the left channel. The Palace player should perhaps have released Fletcher instead.

29'- SAVE! McGovern makes a good save from Fletcher from the left channel, after Baird's clearance had hit McNair and dropped to the Sunderland striker.

45' – SAVE! McGovern stays up to block Fletcher from the left channel, following a fine slide-rule pass from Maloney.

50' - CHANCE! Darren Fletcher sets free Forsyth down the left, and his cross is headed just over by Naismith at the near post.

85' - GOAL! Scotland 1-0 Northern Ireland. Matt Ritchie swings in the corner from the right and Berra leaps above Hughes to head his first goal for Scotland in over three years.

Northern Ireland have now played 22 international friendlies without a victory, a run which began with a 0-0 draw against Scotland at Hampden Park in August 2008.

Billy McKay has made 10 appearances for Northern Ireland, all of them in away fixtures.

Scotland have kept seven clean sheets in their last 11 internationals.

Is Paddy McNair as good as Louis van Gaal thinks he is? The 19-year-old has made his first-team breakthrough at Manchester United this season, but the Ballyclare defender was woeful on his international debut at Hampden Park. Time and time again he was beaten for pace by the impressive Ikechi Anya down the right, so much so that Chris Baird had to come across to help him out and double up on the Watford winger.

The nadir came on the hour mark, when he tried a one-two with Stuart Dallas down the right wing and overhit the pass so hard that it rolled 35 yards and out of play for a goal kick.

Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland) The Hamilton Academical goalkeeper was making only his second international appearance, and his first since 2010, at Hampden Park but he has given manager Michael O'Neill a selection headache ahead of the Group F Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland at Windsor Park on Sunday.

The 30-year-old made three fine stops to deny Steven Fletcher, and another to keep out an Anya effort, and he may well get the nod ahead of 37-year-old Roy Carroll against the Finns.

Scotland: Gordon 7, Whittaker 7, Forsyth 7, Greer 7, Martin 7, McArthur 7, D Fletcher 8, Ritchie 7, S Fletcher 6, Maloney 6, Anya 7. Subs: McGregor 7, Russell 7, Naismith 7, Rhodes 7, Berra 7, Morrison 7.

Northern Ireland: McGovern 9, D Lafferty 7, Evans 8, Baird 7, Dallas 6, Reeves 6, Norwood 6, McNair 5, Hughes 7, Magennis 6, Grigg 6. Subs: McCullough 6, Davis 7, McKay 6, R McLaughlin 6, McCourt 7, Hodson 6.