Ireland B v Scotland B

Went over to visit my friend R who had moved across to Ireland and planned it so we could travel down to Dublin to take in this game. Pre-match we met our friend J from Uni then some of the usual Scotland move who had came across direct. Game was poor and we spent most of it chanting at Ally McCoist.

Had been talking tot he couple behind us but then they went weird and had an argument, love the capture.

Match report

The Republic and Scotland played out a dull stalemate in Tuesday night's B encounter at Dalymount Park in Dublin.

Steven Whittaker and Kris Boyd went close for the visitors in the first half while Scots keeper Paul Gallacher blocked a Joe Gamble effort.

Substitute keeper Mark Brown made two fine saves in the second half, firstly from Richard Keogh's 22-yard drive and then keeping out Gamble's curling shot.

It was the Republic's first game at B level in almost eight years.

The opening half was marginally more entertaining than the second, with Hibernian right-back Whittaker narrowly drilling wide the first chance in the 12th-minute.

Three minutes later Gamble fired over the bar.

Scotland soon responded with Rangers striker Boyd denied by Darren Randolph.

The Scottish defence appeared to be in trouble just before the half hour, when Gamble robbed Stephen Pearson outside the area,

However, Gamble's pass into O'Donovan was too pacy, and although the shot was on target, it allowed Norwich keeper Gallacher to make a point-blank block.

There was a moment of controversy in the 42nd minute when Premier League referee Martin Atkinson awarded Scotland a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Alex Bruce's challenge on Scott Brown led to the Hibs midfielder tumbling in the box, resulting in Scottish protests that it should have been a penalty.

Atkinson was unmoved, and from the dead-ball chance, Boyd drove a crisp shot into the sidenetting.

The expected plethora of substitutions followed over the course of the second period, naturally disrupting the game's rhythm.

After Scunthorpe striker Keogh had a 50th-minute, 22-yard drive smartly saved by Brown, the crowd had to wait 25 minutes for the next opportunity.

Anthony Stokes picked out Keogh in the heart of the area with a low cross, but a scuffed shot and a comfortable take for Brown was the end result.

Eight minutes later, Stokes set up Gamble for a bending shot that brought the best save of the game from Brown.

Rep of Ireland B: Randolf, Foley, McCarthy, Bruce, Emmanuel, Gamble, McPhail, Gibson, O'Brien, Keogh, O'Donovan.
Subs: Quigley, O'Cearuill, Frecklington, Potter, Long, Stokes, Hunt.

Scotland B: Gallacher, Whittaker, Webster, Broadfoot, Steven Smith, Naismith, Stewart, Scott Brown, Clark, Pearson, Boyd.
Subs: Mark Brown, Greer, McEveley, Adam, Miller.

Ref: Martin Atkinson (England).