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Your support makes all the difference.Brian Kerr has been manager of the Republic of Ireland for barely a fortnight, yet already he has achieved a landmark that eluded Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy. Goals by Kevin Kilbane and Clinton Morrison early in this friendly, allied to a sterile display by Scotland, ensured that the 49-year-old Dubliner started his reign with a victory.
Kerr now has six weeks in which to prepare for two vital Euro 2004 qualifiers, away to Georgia and Albania, while Scotland must regroup before resuming their campaign against Iceland and Lithuania. Berti Vogts' men are actually better placed, with four points from two fixtures compared with none for the Irish in a different group, though no one would have credited it on last night's evidence.
Vogts, who took charge a year ago tomorrow, stretched credulity by declaring that the defeat was "not a setback". The German compounded the disbelief by adding that Scotland could overcome Iceland on 29 March if they performed up to the standards shown during the second half. Kerr purred about "a nice set-piece" for the first goal and a "great finish" on the second but cautioned: "It's just a start."
Ireland imposed their superiority from the first whistle, plumped up a two-goal cushion, and repeatedly threatened to add to their lead. In midfield, the leadership of Matt Holland and the industry of Mark Kinsella meant that, on this occasion, the retired Roy Keane was not missed. Scotland, having seemed to have turned a corner lately, were back to driving their supporters round the bend.
Only once did they remotely threaten the Irish goal. Even then a header by Barry Ferguson – the one Scot to emerge with credit apart from the substitute goalkeeper, Paul Gallacher – flew over late in the first half. For once the familiar excuse about having to field players who are not regulars with their clubs did not wash; Kerr's starting line-up contained four who fit that category.
Vogts' pre-match comment about the sudden glut of strikers took on a dark irony. Kerr, in contrast, had to cope without two of his most prized attackers, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, but in Morrison he found a capable deputy.
The first goal of the Kerr era arrived after just eight minutes. Stephen Reid's free-kick, whipped in from the right, found Kilbane unchallenged as he rose to glance a header beyond Neil Sullivan.
Seven minutes later Ireland made the game safe. Kinsella launched an up-and-under which led to Reid challenging Sullivan, who punched the ball straight to Morrison 15 yards out. An instantaneous volley was dispatched into the net, and it took a near miss by Morrison and a desperate save by Gallacher from Stephen Carr to spare Scotland more indignity.
SCOTLAND (3-4-1-2): Sullivan (Tottenham); Anderson (Aberdeen), Dailly (West Ham), S Caldwell (Newcastle); Alexander (Preston), Lambert (Celtic), Ferguson (Rangers), Naysmith (Everton); McCann (Rangers); Crawford (Dunfermline), Hutchison (West Ham). Substitutes: Gallacher (Dundee United) for Sullivan, h-t; Devlin (Birmingham) for Hutchison, h-t; Gemmill (Everton) for Lambert, h-t; Smith (Celtic) for McCann, 65; Cameron (Wolves) for Ferguson, 65; Thompson (Rangers) for Crawford, 66.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): Kiely (Charlton); Carr (Tottenham), Breen (West Ham), O'Shea (Manchester United), Harte (Leeds); Reid (Millwall), Holland (Ipswich), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Kilbane (Sunderland); Doherty (Tottenham), Morrison (Birmingham). Substitutes: Connolly (Wimbledon) for Doherty, 74; Carsley (Everton) for Reid, 78; Healy (Celtic) for Kinsella, 78; Colgan (Hibernian) for Kiely, 82; Dunne (Manchester City) for O'Shea, 82; O'Brien (Newcastle) for Breen, 90.
Referee: E Braamhaar (Netherlands).
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