Shaun Maloney's winner gave Scotland victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Now click HERE for heat maps, statistics and more in our brilliant Match Zone.
Amid
the blood and the thunder, a moment of real quality. Thanks to Shaun
Maloney's right instep Scotland continue down the qualification route
with hope refreshed.
For
75 minutes here at breathless Celtic Park, we had been given what we
expected. Non-stop football low on persistent quality but high on
endeavour and adrenaline.
There
were some good players on show in Glasgow, though, and, with 15 minutes
left, one of them stepped forward to deliver the decisive blow that
leaves both these nations in the mix for qualification for France 2016.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sportsmail's International Big Match Stats: Scotland vs Ireland
Shaun Maloney
celebrates with his team-mates after netting the winner for Scotland in
the 74th minute against the Republic of Ireland
Maloney fires a low curling strike towards goal as Scotland take the lead just 16 minutes from time at Celtic Park
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David
Forde dives to his left but can only watch as Maloney's strike goes into
the back of the net
Maloney (left) wheels away in
celebration with Steven Naismith (centre) in hot pursuit as the Tartan
Army go wild on Friday night
Referee Milorad Mazic (centre) has a word with Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane (left) during the match
MATCH FACTS
Scotland:
Marshall 6, Whittaker 7, R Martin 6.5, Hanley 6, Robertson 6, Brown 6,
Mulgrew 6.5, Maloney 7.5, Naismith 8, Anya 7 (D Fletcher 88), S Fletcher
6 (C Martin 56, 6)
Subs not used: Gordon, Berra, Dorrans, Bannan, Greer, Burke, Gilks, Russell, May
Goal: Maloney 74
Booked: Hanley, Robertson
Manager: Gordon Strachan 6
Republic of Ireland:
Forde 6.5, Coleman 6, Keogh 6, O'Shea 6, Ward 6, McGeady 7.5, Gibson 6
(Quinn 69, 6), Hendrick 6.5 (Keane 78), McClean 6, Walters 6, Long 6
(Brady 68, 6)
Subs not used: Clark, Christie, Meyler, Pilkington, McGoldrick, Randolph, Pearce, Murphy, Given
Booked: McGeady, Coleman, Hendrick, Quinn
Man of the match: Steven Naismith
Manager: Martin O'Neill 6
Referee: Milorad Mazic
Attendance: 55,000
*Ratings by IAN LADYMAN at Celtic Park
Scotland
– the better team in the first half – had actually just weathered a
dangerous spell from a rejuvenated Ireland when a header from Jon
Walters on to his own crossbar and over earned them a corner on the
left.
Previously,
Irish goalkeeper David Forde had plucked Scottish set-pieces out of the
air with comfort. This time, though, the ball was played low to Scott
Brown and when the Scotland captain laid it in to the path of Maloney
the curling shot in to the far corner was exquisite and unstoppable.
Scotland
manager Gordon Strachan thanked one his coaches, Stuart McCall, for a
routine straight from the training ground. The pretty patterns laid out
on paper need executing when the stakes are high, though, and moments
like this one can define careers.
Maloney
is a technically talented footballer but one currently playing near the
foot of the Championship with Wigan. At almost 32, he may fear his best
days are behind him.
His
goal, though, his moment of supreme calm amid the chaos, has given
Scotland something to cling to in a group that looks as though it will
last the distance. As such – with games against Gibraltar and a return
against Ireland to come in the first half of next year – Maloney's
season all of a sudden becomes something more than a scrap against
gravity in the English football pyramid.
On
Friday night Maloney was his country's best player alongside Everton's
Steven Naismith. This was not a game devoid of quality altogether but
these two provided more of it than most.
'They were brave,' said Strachan.
'Little men in a physical game, where the ball was fizzing about and tackles were flying in.
'As a spectacle this was mesmerising.
'The fans made it special and the players wanted to jump higher, run faster and tackle harder.
'It was like a big heavyweight boxing match.'
Narrowly,
Scotland deserved their win. They could have been reduced to ten men in
the first half when Grant Hanley followed a yellow card with a reckless
leap at Forde. As it was, he remained on the field and it was the
Blackburn defender's header against his own bar in injury time that came
closest to giving Martin O'Neill's team an equaliser.
O'Neill
will not panic about this loss. His team's chances of qualification
probably lie in a home programme next calendar year that sees Scotland
come to the Aviva Stadium as well as Georgia and group favourites Poland
and Germany.
Nevertheless, he knows his team didn't play as well as they can on Friday night.
Sportsmail's International Big Match Stats: Scotland vs Ireland
Maloney applauds the Tartan Army at the end of the match as Scotland clinch a crucial 1-0 win at home to the Republic of Ireland
+22
Scott Brown is congratulated by an
over-eager fan who invades the Celtic Park pitch at the end of the match
before being led away
Republic of Ireland manager Martin
O'Neill (left) grabs the ball off Gordon Strachan (centre) as Roy Keane
looks on in the background
+22
Scotland's Charlie Mulgrew (centre) celebrates victory at the end of the match as Scotland move up to third position in Group D
Scotland's Steven Naismith (right) battles for the ball with the Republic of Ireland's James McClean in the Euro 2016 qualifier
Ireland
were the better team for the first 15 minutes of each half. Only in the
second, though, did they create chances, Aiden McGeady coming to life
as Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall saved from him and from centre
forward Shane Long. The second chance – a header from six yards – really
should have gone in.
That
apart, Scotland were on top. Much of their football was hurried. When
they did play, however, they were progressive. Naismith was terrific
behind main striker Steven Fletcher while either side of the Everton
player Maloney and Watford's Ikechi Anya were dangerous.
Had
Fletcher shown a little more quality and, at times, a sharper instinct,
Scotland may have led earlier. The Sunderland player headed an early
corner over and another first half chance wide. When Anya crossed low
from the left near half-time, meanwhile, Fletcher was caught on his
heels.
As the stalemate dragged on, so the intensity of the game raised.
The
crowd had been rather quiet before kick-off but they were soon sucked
deep in to the importance, the needs-must nature, of the game.
+22
Scotland defender Grant Hanley (left) puts Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David Forde (second left) under pressure
+22
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane shouts instructions to his team from the touchline at Celtic Park
+22
Scotland's Steven Whittaker (left) takes a sore one as the Republic of Ireland's Jeff Hendrick makes the challenge
Scotland captain Scott Brown (left) is closed down by Hendrick during the Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow
Hanley (right) fouls Shane Long as Scotland and the Republic of Ireland battle it out in the Euro 2016 qualifiers
Refereed
well by the Serbian official, there were yellow cards but thankfully no
red. The tackles were robust but rarely cynical. It was a game that
deserved to finish with eleven playing eleven.
Midway
through the second period, things got a bit much for O'Neill's
assistant Roy Keane. He has had a long week. Lectured for his
boisterousness by the referee, he responded with a sarcastic salute but
moments later he had something tangible to worry about as Scotland
surged in to the lead.
'I thought we deserved a draw,' said O'Neill afterwards.
'We were comfortable and I thought we would get something out of it.'
With
Poland winning in Georgia, both these teams still face a challenge to
get out of this group. This, though, was an enormous result for the
Scots.
England will face a team with their tails up here on Tuesday.
Here's
the build-up which led to Shaun Maloney's winner for Scotland in the
74th minute - now click here for more graphics and stats in our
brilliant Match Zone
+22
Whittaker (left) controls the ball as McClean comes rushing in to put the Scotsman under pressure
Hendrick (right) goes in for the challenge on Whittaker as both teams look to pick up a crucial three points in Glasgow
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Forde
(left) clutches his face after clashing with Hanley with referee Milorad
Mazic (front) looking on
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill (left) shakes hands with his Scotland counterpart Gordon Strachan ahead of the match
The scene at Celtic Park ahead of the match as both teams line up on the pitch for the national anthems
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock watches on from the stands at Celtic Park as Scotland face the
