Most Scotland fans will be fully expecting three points and a glut of goals against Gibraltar when they face the minnows in Sunday’s all-important Euro 2016 qualifier.
If national boss Gordon Strachan wanted a dress rehearsal, an exercise in patience, probing and pressing against a team seemingly content to soak up the pressure, then this friendly against Northern Ireland probably suited down to the ground.
In truth, the fixture had the feel of a training game that could well have been played behind closed doors, rather than in front of paying punters, and the fans who stayed around long enough were finally rewarded with a winner five minutes from time.
Still, a win’s a win, and Christophe Berra’s header ensured that Scotland would indeed win their first game back at Hampden since November 2013.
One thing’s for sure though, Scotland will need to find more of a cutting edge at the weekend when it matters most or face some serious consequences as they strive to reach their first major championships since 1998.
It’s always slightly concerning when the list of substitutes dwarfs the starting 11, but with both teams facing vital Euro 2016 qualifiers at the weekend few would begrudge managers Strachan and Michael O’Neill the chance to tinker with their teams if it came to it.
As expected, Strachan made a raft of alterations to his side with Craig Gordon starting in goal after making his international comeback in the 3-1 loss to England in November, Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie handed a debut from the off and former Dundee man Craig Forsyth also playing in the first team.
Many eyes would have also been on who would wear the captain’s armband and Darren Fletcher was given that particular nod, although the fact Scott Brown who has ably deputised in Fletcher’s absence in the past was named on the bench potentially defused any fallout from that decision.
As for the visitors, Hamilton’s Michael McGovern was preferred in goal ahead of St Johnstone shot-stopper Alan Mannus, while ex-Rangers men Steve Davis and Kyle Lafferty were benched.
The hosts, bedecked in the now famous pink and yellow striped away strip for a change at home, kicked-off and controlled the early possession before fashioning the first decent chance in the fifth minute.
Ikechi Anya left marker Paddy McNair for dead down the left and whipped in a ball which Steven Fletcher failed to strike cleanly initially, although the Sunderland striker forced McGovern into a fine save at the second attempt.
McGovern did well again five minutes later as he got down to his right to turn a low Anya drive around the post as Scotland sought the opener.
An assured bit of play in midfield by Kilmarnock’s Josh Magennis helped the visitors create an opening in 14 minutes, but Oliver Norwood sliced his attempt well off target.
Anya was causing Northern Ireland all sorts of problems early on and he was given time and space to shoot in 16 minutes, although he dragged his effort wide of McGovern’s right-hand post.
Seven minutes later, Scotland caught Northern Ireland in possession and probably should have made the breakthrough.
James McArthur had Anya to his left and Steven Fletcher to his right and played in the former, although the Watford forward was once more off target with his effort.
The Scots did have a bit of a scare a minute later as a lapse in the home defence allowed the ball to bounce into the path of Will Grigg in the area, but he blasted his shot skyward.
But Scotland were still controlling the game and could have capitalised on slackness in the Northern Irish midfield in 28 minutes, only for Shaun Maloney to balloon an effort over after Anya ‘s lay off.
Steven Fletcher had a low drive smothered by McGovern just before the half hour before the striker’s blushes were saved by the offside flag five minutes before the break as he sclaffed an effort directly in front of goal.
He did better a minute before the interval when he received a great reverse pass by Maloney, but once more McGovern was on hand to thwart him and Scotland to leave it goal-less at half-time.
Strachan introduced Allan McGregor, Christophe Berra and Steven Naismith at the break and the same pattern of play continued.
Naismith almost made an instant impact as he headed an excellent ball in by Forsyth from the left inches over the bar, but after that the game went extremely flat which certainly favoured the visitors.
Strachan made more changes just after the hour as James Morrison and Jordan Rhodes were introduced to try and provide the spark the game needed, but it was the vocal bunch of Northern Ireland fans who were heartened minutes later as Magennis threatened.
The former Aberdeen man pulled his shot across goal wide of the post, but it once more served as a warning to Scotland against complacency at the back.
With 20 minutes left, Anya’s trickery allowed him to get a shot away on the angle, but substitute Lee Hodson did well to block and deflect the ball over.
Then Naismith saw a header from a corner clutched by McGovern on the line as the goal they craved once more eluded them, before Ritchie failed to get enough power on a 25-yard drive and the ball trickled through to the grateful Northern Irish keeper.
Still Scotland huffed and puffed, and they turned to former Dundee United forward Johnny Russell for the last 12 minutes or so.
But it was one of the other substitutes, Berra, who finally got the goal Scotland needed with just under five minutes left.
Ritchie swung in a great corner and the big Ipswich defender did well to get in ahead of his marker to nod the ball beyond McGovern.
Scotland probably deserved far more out of the game than just the solitary goal, and fans will be hoping that their team can hit the net more often when Gibraltar come calling on Sunday.
Scotland: Gordon (McGregor 45), Whittaker (Russell 78), Forsyth, Greer, Martin (Berra 45), McArthur (Morrison 62), D. Fletcher, Ritchie, S. Fletcher (Rhodes 62), Maloney (Naismith 45), Anya.
Subs not used: Marshall, Brown, May, Robertson, Hutton, Bannan, Reynolds, Forrest.
N. Ireland: McGovern, D. Lafferty, Evans (McCullough 80), Baird (Hodson 57), Dallas, Reeves (Davis 69), Norwood (McLaughlin 69), McNair, Hughes, Magennis (McKay 75), Grigg (McCourt 57).
Subs not used: Mannus, McLaughlin, K. Lafferty, Brunt, Ward, Cathcart.
Referee: Martin Atkinson