THE SERIOUS FINALE

Broony would have chuckled at respect we got... even if it didn't extend to his tribute

- MICHAEL GANNON

THE England fans breaking the minute’s silence for Craig Brown brought some tut-tutting from the Tartan Army. 

But somewhere, somehow up there wee Broony would have had a right chuckle about it.

He might have even dusted down his old classic line about it being proof Scotland’s opponents were’ s****ing themselves. It would have been tongue in cheek, of course.

The sadly departed and dearly missed former manager knew this fixture more than anyone – and he knew what it meant to the fans.

But he also knew it wasn’t just a special contest for Scots. England might not like to admit it, but they want to beat us every bit as much as we do them.

And maybe they were s****ing it. OK, that might be a stretch. But they were worried before kick-off and when the fight back was on.

That’s also why they were deadly serious last night. They don’t treat World Cup or Euro Championship qualifiers they way they approached this so-called friendly.

Their fans are as well. They might give it the big condescending patter – stuff like “you’re 2-0 down in your cup final” – and so on. But it’s better to be hated than ignored.

And that’s something to remember after a night when a few reality checks were dished out.

Scotland have come a long way under Steve Clarke – and wee Broony would more than approve – but we’ve still got a bit to go to compete with the really big boys when they decide to turn it on.