Levein off to winning start as Scots end home drought

Craig Levein’s reign as Scotland manager got off to a winning start on Wednesday with Scott Brown firing them to a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic at Hampden.

There had been four managers and 14 years since Scotland last won a friendly at home and it didn’t look like this was going to change in a match where the Czechs – who will renew acquaintance with their opponents in the Euro 2012 qualifiers – dominated for long spells.

Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky created numerous opportunities for his teammates and keeper Craig Gordon was the busiest goalkeeper as he kept Scotland in the game.

However a good move just after the hour mark saw Brown lash in from close range to break the Hampden hoodoo.

Kris Boyd, making his return from self-imposed international exile, also had the ball in the net in the final minute but it was ruled off-side.

There were few survivors from the starting line-up that lost to Wales in Scotland’s last game with Graham Dorrans a late replacement for the injured James McFadden.

The Czechs bossed the first-half.

Tomas Necid found Jaroslav Plasil early on and the Bordeaux midfielder tried his luck with a shot from 25 yards that Gordon watched go round the post. Plasil was involved again when he got up in front of Gordon to connect with Michal Kadlec’s free-kick from the right but he flashed his header over.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Kadlec should have done better when Plasil’s floated free-kick reached him at the back post but the ball hit him and went harmlessly wide.

A mistake from Darren Fletcher allowed Rosicky to pick out Vaclav Sverkos in the box but Gordon stood up well to block his point-blank shot with his body. Scotland survived a scare when they managed to clear off the line from Roman Hubnik after Plasil had flicked on Rosicky’s corner at the front post.

As the game edged towards the break Scotland began to enjoy more possession. Dorrans picked out Barry Robson whose inviting cross was cleared as Kenny Miller looked to connect with it.

Jaroslav Drobny was finally forced into a save on the stroke of half-time when he got a hand to Robson’s curling free-kick from the edge of the box.

The Czechs started the second-half strongly and once again had the Scots confined to their own half.

Rosicky was almost unplayable and from his clever cut-back Sverkos drilled a fierce shot at Gordon who made a fingertip save to force it over the bar. A great Czech passing movement ended with a teasing cross from Ondrej Kusnir which somehow evaded Necid and Sverkos in the box as Levein’s side lived dangerously.

But it was Scotland who took the lead completely against the run of play through Brown in the 62nd minute. Lee Wallace’s cross from the left was headed back into the box by Darren Fletcher and Brown was there to lash the ball into the net off Drobny.