Match kicks off at 8, build up starts at 7:30, live on Sky Sports One. Irish starting line up is as follows... Stack (Arsenal - on loan to Beveren), Brennan (Newcastle Utd), Goodwin (Stockport), Byrne (Sunderland - on loan to Scunthorpe), Tierney (Manchester United - on loan to Crewe), Butler (Sunderland), Dempsey (Dunfermline), Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Hoolahan (Shelbourne), Barrett (Arsenal - on loan to Brighton), Reid (Nottingham Forest). Some strange decisions there, Murphy dropped? Though I'll admit I've not seen much of Stack, Murphy is a class act. Also, I would have expected Thornton to make his U21 debut after breaking into the Sunderland side, but he will come on at some point apparently, apparently Hunt should also win his 2nd U21 cap at some point. Otherwise, it looks quite a strong line up.
Could anyone do PBP so that those of us who aren't lucky enough to have Sky Sports can follow the match? Please?
I'll give it a go, not much happening atm, the Irish team are showing signs of being able to pass the ball well and play some good football, but Maloney is always going to be a threat, left flank looking impresisve so far with Reid drifting and Hoolahan. Ireland have a corner through Barretts run, Reid forces a good save from it.
Scotland playing a 3-5-2 and Ireland having dangerous wingers means Butler and Hoolahan are seing alot of the ball right now and looking very bright and alert, the wingers will have a say in this game. Ball just being pinged around central mid field right now by the Scotts, they got into the box and after a bit of a scramble we have possession back.
Tireney sets Barrett up for a header but the attempt is poor, good effort though, Ireland looking the far more dangerous in the first 10 minutes, I'm very impressed tbh.
Very good effort from Kyle, Scotlands first real effort, over the bar from outside the box but was given far too much space from the centre halfs.
Good through ball by Scotland, but their two forwards fell over each other ruining the chance. My obeservation so far is Ireland are by far better on the ball, but are missing someone like Healy to be a real terrior in mid field in getting the ball back. Looking good going forward though.
Very good for an U21 match, you can clearly here chants of Come On You Boys In Green from the supporters behind Stacks goal. Ireland have 55% possession it just flashed up, very very impressive so far, passing and technically brilliant so far.
Butler shoots just wide after very impressive play from Hoolahan who is looking very good right now, he's in the shop window as he said he wants out of Shels and this will do him the world of good even if it is only U21, Scotland trying the long ball to Kyle but it hasn't worked so far.
Both full backs looking good so far, I must say Brennen is very composed on the ball and technicalluy good, given Newcastles defence he has to be in with a shout of making it there on this preformance, which is actually his U21 debut. Andy Reid just went on a great run from his own half, got to the outside of the box but the shot was poor.
Penalty shout, Kerr takes Butler in the box, not too much contact but I've seen them given, goal kick was the result.
Corner to Scotland...They win the header but somebody blocks the ball before it gets near the goal, ball is cleared, now a throw in to Scotland near the box, nothing comes of it. Ireland have possession again.
Meanwhile, the under 19's are 1-1 with Slovakia at Buckley park @ half time. And Northern Ireland U21 are 1-0 up against Finland.
Corner to Ireland, Barrett beats someone then is tackled, hand ball penalty shout turned down, Scotland are putting more men defencively down the flanks to counter Hoolahan and Butlers early influence. Scotland have a free in a dangerous position now through, Ireland win possesion back.
Chants of Brian Kerrs green and white army can be heard clearly, good to see the Irish are so vocal even at U21 games, meanwhile not much has been happening in the game.
Free kick Scotland, Maloney range, he's a real master at these so there's real danger here...And he's scored, Goal Scotland, they blatantly didn't deserve that but that is a CLASS free kick.
Half time, 1-0 Scotland, but as Givens said the preformance matters more then the result, and on that win lose or draw Ireland have been class and by far the best team so far in the match. Half time came at a good time though in saying that, as Scotland are getting more into it after the Scotland goal, hopefully Givens can get them playing like they were before, maybe throw on Thornton and see what he can do. The better team is loseing though imo.
Not sure on the offical time, but it was around the 40 minute mark. It was a class goal, but in saying that Stack wont be overly pleased with it, he could have done better, but it was still a fantastic free. Scotland are putting men down the flanks now, Butler and Hoolahan aren't on the ball 2 seconds before they're breathing down their neck, so throwing Thornton on down the centre would seem like the best decision, but really nobody would be too happy with coming off, everyones been fantastic.
Thornton, Daly, Melligan on for Reid, Barrett and Hoolahan. Strange, since the former two were two of the best players on the park, might be a club agreement.
Scottish made a lot of subs, main one off is Maloney, McFadden and Stewart are on though, two highly rated players, match quality will probably go down now that's alot of subs espically from Scotland.
Thornton already looks lively, beat three men and fed the ball to the right but nothing came of it, you can see already why he's a now a premiership first teamer and very highly rated.