Northern Ireland have been under the cosh but a rare breakaway sees them open up a great chance! Kyle Lafferty gets clear down the left flank, he has men arriving but goes for the shot instead and it's tame at the near post. Square it!

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 live

"Go with your right foot mate, not left. He's goes for his favoured left. It was unnecessarily acrobatic."

Call me old-fashioned, but I'd take this over watching Spain any day of the week. It is very, very British.

Chance! Steven Fletcher is free, it's another fine cross from Shaun Maloney but he can't make a telling connection...

Jack Poskett:, external Trying to follow the Scotland v Ireland game, seems like a blood bath! I guess, to be fair, both countries are better at rugby.

Mark Duffell:, external Blimey. Scotland v Republic of Ireland is like a 1970s clogging fest between Leeds and Chelsea. No way this ends without a sending off. Old school.

John Dunthorne:, external Looks like a mid-table Championship game. More heart than skill!

Rich:, external Loving the 100 miles-an-hour stuff from Glasgow. Proper game.

Grant Hanley needs some treatment as Shane Long stands on his Achilles as the pair tussle for the ball. That was either accidental, or very nasty indeed...

Last five minutes of a gripping first half.

Image source, Getty Images

It is now 3-0 to world champions Germany against Europe's newest whipping-boys Gibraltar. Thomas Muller got the second in Nuremberg, taking his international tally to 26 in 61 matches, while Mario Gotze, who scored in the final, grabbed the third. Any bets this will remain 3-0?

Over in Belgrade, Serbia had no fans celebrating Zoran Tosic's strike because they are playing behind closed doors (see picture above) against Denmark. This is the first of two games they are playing in an empty stadium as punishment for the trouble that occurred when they hosted Albania in their previous qualifier.

John O'Shea is playing the 'Richard Dunne' role of last line of defence for the Republic to perfection thus far. Sliding tackles, stretching headers, last-gasp blocks with various parts of his anatomy...

Ex-NI defender John O’Neill on BBC Radio Ulster

"I don't know how Northern Ireland have got away with that there, Lucian Sanmartean waltzes through the defence, I've not seen anyone do that to this Northern Irish team. The goal was open and it should have been 1-0 to Romania.

"This is warming up to be a great game. You can gauge what the Romania fans are making of their team so far, because it's getting very, very loud.

"Northern Ireland need to get to half-time at 0-0. They are riding their luck a little bit at the moment."

What a cross! Scotland dial up the pressure, Shaun Maloney whips in a brilliant cross and Seamus Coleman just does enough to stop Charlie Mulgrew heading home the opener. Fantastic wing play - and seconds later Ikechi Anya drills over another from the other side.

Republic of Ireland are hanging on...

Image source, Getty Images

If you wanted a man in your midfield in a game like this, you'd take Roy Keane every time. In fact, the Republic would probably take him still now...

Chance! Romania should be ahead but Bogdan Stancu miscontrols a tap-in and Chris Baird hacks it away! Northern Ireland's 100% record under heavy threat in Bucharest.

Boom! Another booking, another thunderous 50/50 leaves Steven Whittaker in a heap this time. Irish midfielder Jeff Hendrick is in the book, there was no pulling out of that one. Roy Keane looks on with a glint of admiration.

Image source, Getty Images

Grant Hanley - lucky not to be sent off earlier on - catches Republic of Ireland keeper David Forde as they go up for the ball. He's putting himself about tonight! Forde is OK to continue after some treatment. A red card is on its way...

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 live

"I think the referee [Milorad Mazic] has done OK - he's allowed the game to flow. You never expected this to be a pretty game."

Aiden McGeady is in danger of losing his head here. The Republic of Ireland man - born in Falkirk - is coming in for some 'treatment' from the stands and is trying to silence them on his own.

He's already been booked, flies into a powerful challenge on the sidelines and then tries to beat three men just outside of his own box and loses it in a dangerous area. Pass it!

Paul Moore:, external Being English, I am watching and can't decide who to support in the Scotland v Ireland game. I can't help but root for the Irish.

Tremendous energy on display at Celtic Park. The Republic burst forwards after a fine touch in the middle from Jon Walters, James McClean wastes the chance with a poor cross and Scotland instantly counter, Steven Naismith getting clear on the right and winning a corner. Harum scarum stuff...

Ex-NI defender John O’Neill on BBC Radio Ulster

"It was brilliant play from Northern Ireland. The ball from Chris Baird to Kyle Lafferty was brilliant, he takes them on and and they can't close him down. For a minute there I thought Chris Brunt's shot was going in inside the left-hand post, but that was a tremendous chance.

"Romania are terrified when Lafferty runs at the defence. He needs more service to get those opportunities."

What a chance for Romania! Alexandru Chipciu slams a shot against the underside of the crossbar after a smartly worked throw-in. Roy Carroll was well beaten. Just before that, Chris Brunt shot just wide for Northern Ireland...