O’neill’s boys are Brad all over after shocking the Scots
Liverpool sensation’s first international goal caps off outstanding Hampden night as NI continue to come of age in pressure moments
SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND 0 1
THIS is Conor Bradley’s world right now and we’re all living in it.
What a footballer. And what a dream night for this wonderful young 20-year-old from Tyrone, capping a dynamic display with a stunning first goal for Northern Ireland to beat Scotland at Hampden Park.
The boy keeps getting better and better, and Michael O’neill’s young team are on the same trajectory.
This was an outstanding, disciplined performance from the visitors who fought for everything all over the pitch and were rewarded with a fabulous morale-boosting victory.
There were heroes wherever you looked for Northern Ireland, from the composed Bailey Peacock-farrell in goal to the commanding back three of Daniel
Ballard, Paddy Mcnair and Eoin Toal to the fearless and fabulous wing-backs Trai Hume and Brodie Spencer to the tireless Ali McCann and Shea Charles in midfield and Isaac Price and Jamie Reid in attack.
Then there was the superhero Bradley who wore his white shirt like a cape, scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the game in the first half.
It’s a joy seeing this kid play for Northern Ireland with all his pace, power, energy, drive, heart and commitment to the cause… and his quality, oh his quality. It oozed out of him at Hampden, with O’neill playing him in a more attacking role after shining at right wing-back in Friday’s 1-1 draw in Romania.
That worked a treat.
The manager made three changes from Bucharest with Peacock-farrell, new dad Ballard and Mccann replacing Conor Hazard, Jordan Thompson and Paddy Lane.
The Scots made two alterations to the side that started in their 4-0 defeat away to the Netherlands — Lyndon Dykes came in up front for Lawrence Shankland and Liam Cooper replaced Ryan Porteous.
When the
British Home
Championships were going strong, this fixture was an annual event, but last night’s encounter was the first between the nations since 2015 when Scotland won 1-0 in a friendly in which Mcnair made his international debut.
Back then in O’neill’s first spell in charge, his side were on their way to qualifying for the Euro 2016 Finals while Scotland were in the wilderness.
Fast forward nine years and it is the Tartan Army who are preparing to invade Germany to attend this summer’s European Championships, with the Green and White Army hoping a major tournament is not far away.
The last time Northern Ireland defeated Scotland was 41 years ago — 2-0 at Windsor Park