Scotland made it two wins from two in the Carling Nations Cup, after coming from behind to beat Wales 3-1 in Wednesday evening’s Celtic clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Stand-in Wales captain Robert Earnshaw brought a drab first half to life with a sublime run and finish after pouncing on a Scottish error, but James Morrison levelled ten minutes after half-time.
Kenny Miller and Christophe Berra then completed the turnaround as Scotland ran out deserving winners and set up a winner-takes-all clash with the Republic of Ireland, who also have a perfect record, on Sunday.
In front of a tiny crowd, striker Earnshaw led a Wales side in which defender Neil Eardley was the only Premier League regular from the season just finished. Boss Gary Speed opted to leave the likes of Aaron Ramsey, James Collins and David Vaughan, as well as Craig Bellamy, among his subs as just 48 hours would pass before Wales’s game against Northern Ireland in the same competition.
Scotland boss Craig Levein paired Leeds United’s Ross McCormack in attack with Miller, while Morrison and Charlie Adam started in a midfield that looked like it might have some creativity.
Leicester City’s Andy King is a midfielder who has attracted top flight scouts and he looked to show why in the very first minute, but could only blast Wales’s maiden effort over Allan McGregor’s bar from distance. Wales then cut out a Stephen Crainey ball that was meant for Miller in the Scots’ first saunter upfield, before a longer than necessary cagey spell saw openings very much few and far between.
Eventually, after being on the back foot of the midfield stand-off, Scotland began to assert a little command but efforts from Rangers pair Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker were easily held by Boaz Myhill. Then, after Myhill tipped a teasing Adam corner out for a repeat, Whittaker headed the next one into the ground and wide.
Jermaine Easter fired into McGregor’s left-hand side-netting up the other end before San Vokes turned and shot over. As for Scotland, Whittaker was soon again involved, but his cross – after surging clear on the left – had just too much zip for Miller to make a connection in the middle.
That was more than a half-chance but Wales were then gifted one of their own, which captain Earnshaw duly took. Crainey’s defensive header from Blackpool team-mate Eardley’s long punt forward was anything but as Earnshaw seized upon it, weaved his way past the remaining defenders to go clean through, and then clipped the ball over McGregor and the line.
Myhill denied a fine spin and shot from McCormack as the Scots went close to equalising straight away, but they went into the break a goal down. McCormack had another pop early in the second half, but this time his shot was weak and of little worry for the West Brom stopper. Levein had clearly vented some half-time ire though and his side responded to own the second half, with Myhill also needed to keep hold of a long-range free-kick from Adam.
Then ten minutes into the second period the Scots were level. Adam was the provider with the sort of lengthy forward pass that he has been providing for Blackpool all season. Midfield colleague Morrison was the beneficiary, the West Brom man taking the pace out of the pass on the right of the area and holding off sub Chris Gunter before firing beyond Myhill.
Immediately a procession of Scottish chances came about, with Miller firing wide not long after the goal and McCormack blasting Crainey’s knock-down over when he should have done better. He need not have feared though as Miller soon had his men ahead.
A jaded-looking Wales were caught flat-footed as Whittaker slipped Morrison in on the right, in acres of space. He took one touch forward before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Miller to slam the ball to the back of the Welsh net.
It was one-way traffic now, with Naismith only just denied by a last-ditch Gunter block. With 20 minutes to go though Wales were out of it. Whittaker controlled the ball well on the right byline before firing a cross to the far post where defender Berra easily headed home for 3-1.
As his side’s challenge was dismantling Speed was generally adding more class and guile to it with Ramsey and Vaughan among the substitutes introduced, but it was too late for two talented men who both suffered disappointing ends to their league seasons to do anything for Wales.
Instead Scotland continued to create chances until the final whistle, with Miller and sub Barry Bannan missing out. Earnshaw did send one 20-yard effort just too high for Wales and Darcy Blake headed wide at the death, but avoiding the wooden spoon is now their only target when they face Northern Ireland on Friday.
The Scots can still claim a rare trophy.