Steve Howard rescued Scotland B a draw they barely deserved against their Republic of Ireland counterparts.
Derby man on target as Scots seal late draw against Ireland
Steve Howard rescued Scotland B a draw they barely deserved against their Republic of Ireland counterparts, as his late header earned a 1-1 stalemate at Airdrie.
Scotland goalkeeper Graeme Smith was the game's outstanding performer as he repeatedly thwarted the Irish, before seven minutes from time Derby striker Howard headed in an equaliser off the post.
Richie Byrne had earlier in the second half put Ireland in the lead, before in the game's dying embers they had Jim Goodwin sent-off.
Scotland started brightly and could have gone ahead in just the second minute when Michael Stewart's ball across goal just failed to find Charlton striker Chris Iwelumo.
It was to be a false dawn in terms of entertainment though as the first half soon became an altogether forgettable affair, as Ireland began to find their feet.
Dundee United's Noel Hunt tested Smith from 20-yards, before the visitors were made to shuffle their side as Glenn Whelan was forced off courtesy of Chris Armstrong's hefty challenge.
It was Ireland that went close to breaking the stalemate when Roy O'Donovan's run and cross found Hunt, whose daisy cutter was brilliantly saved by Smith.
Scotland struggled to find any real rhythm with Iwelumo's effort from range easily saved by Colin Doyle, who later in the half made a more impressive stop to deny Sunderland's Ross Wallace.
Smith outstanding
In the second period Smith came to the fore as he denied Byrne's diving header and then turned wide O'Donovan's follow up effort.
Smith then pushed a 25-yard strike by Ireland sub Mark Yeates onto the bar but there was only so much he could do to save his side and Byrne stroked into the empty net to give the Republic a 65th-minute lead.
Yeates and Coventry's Michael Doyle had chances to extend the lead, only for Howard to score against the run of play from Armstrong's cross.
An often ill-tempered game culminated in a red card as Goodwin was sent off for a second yellow card following a foul on Armstrong.
