Scot's Get Stung

New Scotland manager Alex McLeish was left with as many questions as answers after Scotland B drew 2-2 with their Finland counterparts at Rugby Park.

Jari Llola fired the visitors into a third minute lead but the Scots responded with goals from Shaun Maloney and substitute Alan Gow who had replaced Stephen Pearson on the hour mark.

But with eight minutes remaining Finnish substitute Juho Makela, on for Shefki Kuqi, headed home the equaliser.

The Scots' side was picked by McLeish but managed on the night by Alex Smith and Bobby Williamson.

However, as an indicator of what is available in the wings ahead of the forthcoming Euro 2008 double-header against Georgia and Italy at the end of March, this could have done little to inspire the new national boss with perhaps only Aston Villa's new striker Shaun Maloney doing enough to impress the former Rangers manager who watched the match from the stand.

The frost that covered Rugby Park on a bitterly cold night could hardly have been less conducive to a night of inspiration.

And the Scots could hardly have got off to a more depressing start when they conceded with barely three minutes on the clock.

The Scots players may have been auditioning for a part in McLeish's set-up but the early showman was Finland midfielder Llola.

Kuqi's cross from the left all too easily evaded the Scotland defence before falling kindly to the Finn who impressively dispatched his drive from 16 yards past the flailing Paul Gallacher.

The home side gathered their wits about them quickly and in the 11th minute they were level with an equally well-taken striker from Maloney, featuring in attack as opposed to the left-midfield berth he regularly occupied at Celtic Park before his move to Villa in the January transfer window.

Midfielder Stephen Pearson drove unhindered towards the Finland goal and his simple lay off at the edge of the box found the Villa player hardly breaking stride before lashing the ball into the corner of the net. The encounter was interesting without being exciting and, as the temperature plummeted, there was little between the sides for the rest of the first half.

The best pass witnessed came from Scotland skipper Kevin Thomson who picked out the tireless Craig Beattie from his own half.

However, the Celtic striker ran the ball too wide of Finland keeper Peter Enckleman before turning and driving his shot high and wide from just inside the Finnish penalty area.

Maloney almost put the Scots ahead two minutes after the restart when he was again set up by Pearson, but the former Celtic player hit the side netting from 10 yards out.

There remained a nervousness about the Scotland defence which did little for the confidence of the home support shivering in the stands.

However, in the 64th minute the Scots took the lead through Falkirk striker Gow, one of three substitutes who had appeared for the home side on the hour mark.

Maloney's corner from the left had the Finland defence in trouble and although the Rangers-bound player's close-range header had little conviction it managed to escape the clutches of Enckelman.

More substitutions ensued which served only to disrupt the match and, with time running out and players trying harder to impress, their was an air of a school trial about the match as it entered its final quarter.

But the Scots were shocked in the 82nd minute when the visitors drew level.

Substitute Sjolund Daniel's corner from the right was met by fellow replacement Makela and the Hearts striker flicked in a header from around 10 yards out.

Scotland B: Gallacher (Langfield 46), Hutton, McEveley (Barr 61), S Brown (Fowler 68), Greer, Broadfoot, Clark, Maloney, Beattie (Mackie 68), Thomson (Adam 61), Pearson (Gow 61).

Goals: Maloney 11, Gow 64.

Finland B: Enckleman, Pasanen, Hetemaj (Nurmella 21), Pasoja (Sujolund 65), Kuivasto, Ilola, Kuqi (Makela 65), Kopteff, Kallio (Kansiskas 75), Eremenko, Nyman (Lampi 71).

Goals: Ilola 3, Makela 82.

Ref: David Malcolm (Northern Ireland).