IT may not have been particularly pretty. It could be argued it was a touch fortunate on the balance of chances. But Scotland showed they have grit to go with the guile they showed against Ukraine last week as they came out on top of a brutal battle against the Republic of Ireland at Hampden Park.
Irish skipper John Egan had silenced the national stadium – save for the delirious pocket of green tucked into one corner of the old bowl – by smashing home after Scotland had failed to properly clear from an Irish corner early on.
