Liverpool's Bradley scores as Northern Ireland beat Scotland
After being thrashed 4-0 by the Netherlands on Friday, Scotland would have been determined to produce a positive response in their first meeting with Northern Ireland since 2015.
Despite dominating possession, Scotland were unable to create any clearcut chances in the opening half-hour. After offering very little in the final third, Northern Ireland stunned their hosts in the 32nd minute when Bradley thumped home his first international goal.
The Liverpool man dispossessed Nathan Patterson, before driving into the box and sending his deflected strike out of the reach of Angus Gunn.
Matters then got worse for Scotland when their captain Andrew Robertson was forced off with an apparent ankle injury.
The hosts were perhaps fortunate to go into the break with just a one-goal deficit after Shea Charles failed to hit the target from a promising opportunity.
Following an underwhelming first period, Scotland showed glimpses of improvement as the contest moved past the hour mark. John McGinn whipped an inviting free-kick towards the towering Liam Cooper, who could only direct the ball wide of Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s goal.
With less than 15 minutes remaining, Clarke decided it was time to make his final substitutions, introducing Stuart Armstrong and Lawrence Shankland in a bid to find an equaliser.
Those changes were unable to have the desired effect as the Green and White Army showed great desire to keep their hosts at bay.
While Northern Ireland are unbeaten in three matches, the Euro 2024 participants have now lost five of their previous seven matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland)
