Scotland proved too strong for Northern Ireland with a 3-0 win in their opening Carling Nations Cup clash in Dublin.
Miller, McArthur & Commons on the mark for Scots
Scotland proved too strong for Northern Ireland with a 3-0 win in their opening Carling Nations Cup clash in Dublin.
Kenny Miller celebrated being handed the Scotland captaincy with the opening goal after 19 minutes from close-range.
James McArthur, who was a late replacement for the injured Scott Brown, added a second on 32 minutes with a goal that appeared to be a cross from the right-corner of the edge of the box.
Scotland continued to call the tune in the second half and it was no surprise when they added a third six minutes after the break when Kris Commons netted after good interplay between James Morrison and Steven Naismith.
This comprehensive defeat must have been a demoralising experience for manager Nigel Worthington, who was working with more meagre than usual resources given the 10 call-offs from his original squad including one late withdrawal, George McCartney, who had apparently quit international football.
Craig Levein was also forced to change his plans when Brown had to be replaced by Wigan midfielder McArthur.
The Celtic skipper's enforced withdrawal resonated all the more given that his club manager Neil Lennon, with one eye on a heavy domestic workload, had questioned the timing of the fixture earlier in the week.
However, that is an issue for another day. This was a night of positivity for the Scots.
After the Tartan Army had booed their opponents' national anthem, it was Northern Ireland who started the game in purposeful mode.
In the 10th minute Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor had to deal with a low drive from Niall McGinn, who had been put through by fellow Celtic team-mate Paddy McCourt.
Four minutes later, however, the Scots should have been ahead. Celtic wide man Commons forced his way into the Irish box before cutting the ball back to Miller - who had taken over the captaincy from injured Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher - but he blasted over the bar from 12 yards.
Opener
However, in the 18th minute the former Rangers striker made up for that miss when he put the Scots ahead.
When Charlie Adam's corner came in from the left, Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey and skipper Stephen Craigan failed to deal with Phil Bardsley's near-post flick and Miller gratefully slammed the ball in from three yards.
Moments later, Adam ignored a missile directed at him from the crowd to swing a corner over from the other side and this time Scotland defender Steven Caldwell clipped the bar with a header.
As Levein's side warmed to the task, Commons took a pass from Bardsley to set himself up for a shot on goal but his close-range effort was blocked by Irish defender Gareth McAuley.
The second Scotland goal arrived in the 31st minute although there was some doubt over McArthur's intentions after he took a pass from right-back Alan Hutton just outside the box.
The former Hamilton midfielder appeared to be sending a cross over to the back post but he watched it sail over Tuffey's head and in under the bar.
The Inverness keeper then tipped a shot from Bardsley over the bar before the Sunderland defender crossed for Miller, who stretched to head over from eight yards.
Most of the action was in the Irish box and Tuffey saved a James Morrison header after Hutton had again galloped down the right before chipping the ball into the middle.
By means of retaliation McGinn had a shot deflected wide
