Earnshaw Hat-Trick Stuns Scotland

Unfortunately, a game which looked very attractive for both teams and both sets of supporters on paper lost a lot of its meaning in the build up to the game with the  high number of absentees from both squads. Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Simon Davies and Robbie Savage were the most well-known Wales players on the pitch, but when the two teams took to the field there was the slight feeling it was a 'B' international.

Prior to the game the atmosphere in and around the ground was mainly friendly, although a couple of pubs had to be closed before kick-off due to a few scraps in town, one was apparently between Cardiff and Hibernian fans. I got chatting to a Glasgow Rangers fan and a Glasgow Celtic fan who were amazingly together in their shirts! They held an interesting flag which had a Welsh Dragon and Scottish cross at the top, and there was a Union Jack and an Irish Tricolour in either bottom corner obviously symbolising the two Old Firm clubs. A nice show of unity, particularly as people would have you believe their rivalry is intense fans can't bare to be together, especially as fans of the two Glaswegian giants supposedly don't watch Scotland anyway!

The game started in terrific fashion for the hosts when Gary Speed sent an inch-perfect ball across to Earnshaw who used his pace to beat the Scottish centre-backs, before driving the ball into the back of the net with a little help from Rab Douglas' glove. The Zambian-born forward will be happy to claim it!

Driven on by their terrific away following, Scotland responded to Earnshaw's opener in spirited fashion and had several good opportunities to restore parity. Paul Dicov and Darren Fletcher should have scored with clear-cut chances, and there was worrying signs at the back with City's Daniel Gabbidon getting caught out in possession twice in his less familiar slot of left-back.

However, despite a spell of 20-minutes dominance the Jocks couldn't find an equaliser and it was clear Bertie Vogts' side are missing a good quality striker to finish off the number of opportunities that were created. Scotland had the chances to make this game an interesting affair, but were punch-less upfront.

Simon Davies had to be taken off with a leg injury after the half-hour mark, which made way for Cardiff's youngster Paul Parry to make his Wales debut. It truly is a fairytale story for the left winger, who was playing non-league football for Hereford United only a matter of weeks ago.

Against the run-of-play Wales doubled their advantage on 34 minutes with Robert Earnshaw netting his brace, and his team-mate Paul Parry playing a part in the goal. The 23-year-old found Ryan Giggs in space, and the Manchester United star sent a fantastic cross over two Robert Earnshaw, who crept between the Scots' defensive duo Stephen Caldwell and Paul Ritchie to slot the ball home with the help of a slight deflection.

In typical international friendly fashion, Mark Hughes and Bertie Vogts made a series of substitutions at the break. Ryan Giggs and 'keeper Mark Crossley were replaced by Gareth Taylor and Darren Ward. Scotland made two changes of their own with Reading's Graeme Murty for Gary Naysmith and Wigan's Gary Teale in place of Stephen Pearson. There was also a strange referee swap, with the original Northern Irish official making way for a fatter, balder bloke!

Darren Ward was kept busy in the opening minutes, with James McFadden going close for the visitors but the game was over as a contest eight minutes into the half with Robert Earnshaw completing his hat-trick. Gary Speed was once again to thank with the pass to Earnshaw, who blasted the ball past Robert Douglas to secure himself the match-ball. It was the first hat-trick by a Wales player since Rush hit three against the Faroe Islands in 1992, and the first against Scotland since Toshack in 1979. The goal was Earnshaw's sixth for Wales from ten international caps.

A lot of the Scotland fans started to depart the ground at this point, with a few more beers in the pub the preferred option to watching their country take a beating! Paul Dicov nearly got one back for Scotland, with a shot that shaded the top of the crossbar and substitute Paul Gallacher also tested Ward but there was no way back for the disappointing Scottish side.

The rout was completed with 11 minutes left on the clock, with Nottingham Forest's Gareth Taylor slotting the ball through the legs of Douglas from an acute angle which was his first international goal.

The only disappointment for the night was the atmosphere throughout the game amongst the Welsh fans, which once again was non-existent. The large number of Scottish fans accumulated in the 3-tier away-end, and dotted in and around the game sang their hearts throughout with a book full of different chants. Not at any time during the game did the home fans, 39,000 of them, manage to match the visitors for noise. The part-timers with their hooters prevailed again!

Anyway, an accomplished performance from Wales, although you can't help but be a little disappointed with the Scots. Both sides were well under-strength, and in fact Wales finished the game with only 1 Premiership players on the pitch who was Aston Villa's Rob Edwards (and he is on loan at Derby County!), so it's hard to judge much from the game. However, this should have been a morale booster for some of the players after the woeful finish to the European Championship qualifying campaign.

As for the Bluebirds in action, Robert Earnshaw was obviously the man of the match with an excellent performance, and any Greenock Morton fans amongst the Scotland fans must have been thinking "if only"! Paul Parry had an hour and did well on what must have been a nerve-wracking occasion. He played a part in the second goal, and made some impressive runs down the left flank underlining what a bright spark he is. Daniel Gabbidon had a slightly disappointing day, with errors almost leading to two Scotland strikers, but his performance will be well overshadowed by Earnshaw's heroics.

Full Time - Wales 4-0 Scotland
Attendance - 47,124

Wales: Crossley (Ward 46), Edwards, Page, Melville (Symons 87), Gabbidon, Davies (Parry 33), Speed (Robinson 72), Savage (Fletcher 72), Oster, Earnshaw, Giggs (Taylor 46).
Subs Not Used: Weston, Roberts.

Scotland: Douglas, McNamara, Naysmith (Murty 46), Dailly, Stephen Caldwell, Ritchie, Fletcher (Webster 86), Cameron (Gallagher 67), Kenny Miller, Dickov, Pearson (McFadden 46).
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Gary Caldwell, Teale.

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