Summary

  • Bradley flashes looping effort over Gunn for only goal

  • Scotland captain Robertson goes off injured; Ferguson introduced

  • Scotland lost 4-0 in Netherlands on Friday & Northern Ireland drew 1-1 in Romania

  1. Postpublished at 19:22 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Nick McPheat
    BBC Scotland at Hampden

    This might be the coldest day in Scotland's history. It's obviously not, but I swear this is the coldest I've been in a football stadium.

    I've not got my gloves with me either, because why would I? It's a week away from April. Brutal.

    Anyway, rant over. Bring on the football.

  2. Postpublished at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    This guy is back at Hampden tonight, but playing a different kinda role to the game back in 2015.

    Steven Naismith is one of the TV pundits on BBC Scotland, alongside Shelley Kerr and James McFadden.

    Steven NaismithImage source, SNS
    Steven NaismithImage source, SNS
  3. Throwback to Berrapublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Despite being a hop, skip and jump across the Irish Sea, Scotland and Northern Ireland have come face-to-face a surprisingly low number of times over the years. In fact, the last meeting was waaay back in 2015.

    If you had a deek at just this picture, you'd be forgiven for checking twice who's who. Aye, Northern Ireland were in the blue and Scotland were dressed as Fab* ice lollies.

    Gordon Strachan's Scotland dominated on the night, with nine shots on target, and finally got the sole goal of the game via Christophe Berra's head.

    *Other ice lollies are available, but Fabs are elite.

    Christophe Berra scoring against Northern Ireland at Hampden in 2015Image source, SNS
  4. 🔈: Podcast previewpublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Just hopped off a train at Mount Florida or parked the car up and can't be bothered listening to folks predications for the game ahead? Aye, we've all been there.

    We've got the perfect excuse for you to tune out of any chat.

    This morning, Phil Goodlad was joined by Mark Atkinson, sports editor for The Scotsman and Northern Irish broadcaster Michael Clarke to preview the action at Hampden.

    Give it a whirl here.

    Scottish Football PodcastImage source, SNS
  5. 📺published at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Nae excuses for missing this one tonight...

    It's live on BBC Scotland, BBC Two NI, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from 19:30.

    Spoiled rotten.

  6. Bradley v Robertson 'fascinating'published at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Steven Beacom
    Belfast Telegraph's chief sports writer on Good Morning Scotland

    Conor Bradley and Andy RobertsonImage source, Getty Images

    Scotland are going to be big favourites in front of a passionate crowd

    What you will see is a young Northern Ireland side who play without fear. Scotland are going to dominate possession, and it will be up to Northern Ireland to soak that up and hit them on the break.

    Northern Ireland have pace about them with Conor Bradley and Isaac Price, but Scotland will fancy this. They'll think it's a great chance to end their poor run of results.

    I can't wait to see Bradley's match-up with Andy Robertson, who has been like a mentor to him at Liverpool. That's going to be fascinating.

  7. NI kids doing alright...published at 19:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    While Friday night turned into a bit of a night to forget for Scotland, it was a right old promising one for Northern Ireland as their young team drew 1-1 with Romania.

    The average age of Michael O'Neill's side was just 23.5. The oldest player was 29-year-old debutant Jamie Reid, who scored the opener.

    O'Neill highlighted not having a single player over 30 as "a real positive of where we are at this minute in time".

    Preparing for tomorrow...

    Jamie ReidImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jamie Reid plies his trade for Stevenage

  8. 'Sometimes a little kick in the teeth isn't the worst thing in the world'published at 19:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Tartan Army, I'm trying my best to not mention the last 18 minutes from Friday night, I promise...

    But, Scott McTominay has assured it's "not all doom and gloom", despite the 4-0 defeat to the Dutch in Amsterdam.

    "I don't think confidence has dipped. We know we played some really good stuff the other night," McTominay said.

    "So it's not all doom and gloom. It may seem like it from the results, but we want to keep pushing - we want to show everyone we are a really good team and we're capable of that with the squad we have.

    "The 4-0 result was a little bit of an injustice, but you can get complacent, you can get too excited, you can get too ahead of yourself and take your foot off the gas.

    "Sometimes a little kick in the teeth isn't the worst thing in the world to get everyone back to the standards that we know we're accountable for."

    Scott McTominayImage source, SNS
  9. Postpublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    A pitch-perfect programme.

    Anyone fancy picking up a spare and sending it my way? Cheers.

    Scotland v Northern Ireland programmeImage source, SNS
  10. Hope for youthful NI sidepublished at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Rebecca Keegan
    BBC Sport NI at Hampden

    Many Northern Ireland fans have made the short journey across the water to watch Michael O'Neill's youthful side take on Euro-bound Scotland.

    A positive result against Romania on Friday has the fans hopeful for a result here tonight.

    Northern Ireland fans Ryan, Adam, KeithImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland fans Ryan, Adam, Keith

    Northern Ireland fans Seth, Jessica and RileyImage source, BBC Sport
    Image caption,

    Northern Ireland fans Seth, Jessica and Riley

  11. 'Would've liked to see Ferguson'published at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Steven Thompson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

    I thought Lewis Ferguson would have started at least one of these two games, I really would have liked to see it.

    I thought it would have been a great opportunity for him. He's playing at the highest level in Serie A.

  12. 'Frustrated' at Shankland's omissionpublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

    It's disappointing, not surprising.

    I'm a little frustrated, though. We know what Lyndon Dykes can do at this level, we're still learning what Lawrence Shankland can do at this level...

  13. Postpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    As I mentioned, the radio team have been on the airwaves a fair wee while, so their immediate reaction to the Scotland team news was unfiltered.

    Here's what they had to say...

  14. Postpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Imagine there's a lot of this going on right now...

    Lawrence ShanklandImage source, SNS
  15. Switch between sticks one of three NI changespublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Michael O'Neill brings in three new faces from the Northern Ireland side that drew in Romania at the weekend.

    Former St Johnstone midfielder Ali McCann is drafted in, alongside Daniel Ballard and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

    Out go ex-Celtic keeper Conor Hazard, Jordan Thompson and Paddy Lane.

    Ali McCannImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ali McCann won the Scottish Cup and League Cup with St Johnstone.

  16. Dykes & Cooper in for Scots, Shankland drops to benchpublished at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    There's no mass overhaul from the Dutch defeat on Friday for Steve Clarke and Scotland.

    Lawrence Shankland has to make do with a place on the bench, as he's replaced by Queen's Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes.

    Ryan Porteous is the other player to drop out from Amsterdam, with Liam Cooper back in the rearguard.

    Lyndon DykesImage source, SNS
  17. LINE-UPS from Hampdenpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    Scotland XI: Gunn, Patterson, Hendry, Cooper, Tierney, Robertson, McGinn, Gilmour, McTominay, Christie, Dykes

    Substitutes: Kelly, Clark, Gordon, Ralston, Porteous, Souttar, Taylor, Armstrong, Ferguson, McLean, Adams, Shankland.

    Northern Ireland XI: Peacock-Farrell, Spencer, Ballard, Toal, McNair, Hume, Bradley, McCann, Charles, Reid, Price.

    Substitutes: Hazard, Southwood, Donnelly, Brown, Lane, Thompson, Boyd-Munce, McMenamin, Marshall, Maegennis Lavery, Smyth.

  18. Postpublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    I've not quite finished my dinner, but the team news has been delivered sharp tonight.

    No rest for the wicked, let's get to it...

  19. Next stop: Hampdenpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March

    Scotland v Northern Ireland (19:45)

    The road to Germany for Steve Clarke's Scots continues...

    It's a grey auld evening in Glasgow, but Euro 2024-bound Scotland and youthful Northern Ireland will be lighting up Hampden in a wee while as they meet in each side's second friendly of the international break.

    There is so much to get through, the radio guys just couldn't wait any longer. They're champing at the bit to get the chat going on BBC Radio Scotland, and tbh, who can blame them?

    Tune in at the top of this page while I go and get some scran, and I'll be back in about 45 minutes when the teams are announced.

    And mind, the match is spread far and wide across the BBC, with it on the box on BBC Scotland, BBC Three, BBC Two NI and BBC iPlayer.

    You lucky lot.

    Scotland fansImage source, SNS
    Northern Ireland fansImage source, SNS