Conor Bradley stunner adds to Scotland’s woes as Andy Robertson goes off injured

A night to forget for one Liverpool full-back and a struggling Scotland proved very much one to savour for another of Jurgen Klopp’s defenders and Michael O’Neill’s young Northern Ireland side.

Andy Robertson lasted just 36 minutes before the Scotland captain limped off injured moments after seeing his Liverpool team-mate Conor Bradley score a fine goal that drained more life out of Scotland’s preparations for this summer’s Euros. 

Any pleasure Klopp will have felt at watching Bradley’s first goal for his country secure Northern Ireland’s first win over Scotland for 41 years will have been offset by a worrying looking ankle injury to Robertson that could yet deal a blow to Liverpool’s title hopes.

Robertson was caught on the left ankle during a challenge by Trai Hume on the half-hour mark and lasted just seven minutes longer before being withdrawn in visible discomfort.

“He’s just come off the pitch, let the injury take its course, he’ll go back to his club, they will assess it and hopefully it’s not too serious,” Clarke said.

Robertson’s early exit compounded a miserable night for Scotland, who are running into problems at precisely the wrong time with only 11 weeks to go before they kick-off the Euros against host nation Germany in Munich on June 14.

This was their fifth defeat in seven matches and they are now on their longest winless streak for 26 years, with all the momentum Clarke’s side had built up during a hugely impressive 21-match run up to last September gradually evaporating.

Clarke put on a brave face. “I’m not counting,” the Scotland manager said when asked about a winless run that now stretches back seven games to September. “The biggest thing for us is to be ready for June. I’d rather be sitting here in our position than Wales, who have unfortunately been knocked out on penalty kicks. It’s not all doom and gloom.”

Scotland hogged the ball but did precious little with it and looked short of ideas on how to break down an dogged, disciplined low block. They had 14 shots on the night but were pedestrian and one-paced going forward. Lewis Ferguson had a header tipped over and Lawrence Shankland a shot blocked from close range and that was about as good as it got. Northern Ireland, by contrast, were organised and counter-attacked well. 

Their only shot on target yielded Bradley’s goal but Shea Charles should have doubled their advantage soon after when he shot wide from an inviting position. 

It was a first half of starkly contrasting fortunes for two Liverpool full-backs, Robertson departing within minutes of Bradley scoring. 

The previous time Robertson was injured on international duty he ended up being sidelined for three and a half months after dislocating a shoulder during a 2-0 defeat to Spain last October. Klopp, like Clarke, will hope Robertson’s latest setback is not nearly so serious ahead of Liverpool’s game against Brighton on Sunday. 

This is a young Northern Ireland team that O’Neill is piecing together and there are no prizes for guessing who is the rising star among them. A right back for Liverpool, Bradley was deployed in a more advanced role as part of a four man midfield and revelled.

There had been little to recommend a drab, cagey game before the 20-year-old took matters into his own hands - and mercilessly punished errors from Nathan Patterson that encapsulated Scotland’s lacklustre night.

Having lost a 50-50 with Spencer to allow the Northern Ireland to surge down the left towards goal, Patterson appeared to have made amends with a good recovery challenge. But, from his own touchline, the Scotland wing back attempted a risky pass under pressure that was intercepted, allowing Bradley to collect the loose ball, drive inside and then rifle a shot into the top corner right with the help of a small nick off Jack Hendry. 

“We played him higher up tonight, he’s normally a right back but he’s very adaptable because he’s so athletic and has real quality as well,” O’Neill said.

“He said after the game he found the position a little bit alien, a little tricky but I believe he can play there.

“Conor has that ability to have those little moments, you’ve seen that in those games he’s played for Liverpool. He had a crucial part to play in the goal in Bucharest and obviously got the goal tonight. He’s in a rich vein of form.”

The same cannot be said for Scotland. They have just two more friendlies to play, against Gibraltar and Finland, before taking on Germany and Clarke will need them to be a lot better than this.