Kerr gives Holland the captain's armband

Both managers were looking for firsts from this Hampden Park friendly – new Ireland boss Brian Kerr was seeking a win with his first team selection since succeeding Mick McCarthy, while Scotland manager Berti Vogts was targeting his first victory at the national stadium just days before he celebrates a year in the job.

Kerr, who yesterday learned Roy Keane would not be coming out of international retirement, opted for a starting line-up made up of eight Barclaycard Premiership players plus three from the Nationwide First Division.

Ipswich midfielder Matt Holland was handed the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Kenny Cunningham.

The three Scottish-based players – Colin Healy, Nick Colgan and Alan Maybury - all started on the bench.

With centre-back Steven Pressley having pulled out through injury, Vogts handed a start to Stephen Caldwell of Newcastle, whose only previous senior experience had been a friendly in Poland under Craig Brown.

The German’s other pre-match choices had come at each end of the field with Neil Sullivan getting the nod to start in goal ahead of Paul Gallacher and Neil McCann handed an attacking role on the wing instead of Paul Devlin.

This was only the eighth time the two nations had met with the last being a 2-1 success for the Scots at Lansdowne Road in May 2000.

Both Scots scorers that day – Don Hutchison and Barry Ferguson – started tonight, with Hutchison making his return to the international fold following a year out with a serious knee injury.

The last time Ireland came to Hampden was February 1987 in a European Championship qualifier that was settled by an early mark Lawrenson goal in favour of the visitors.