Poland 1

Craig Brown's under-strength Scotland performed with great credit to earn a deserved draw against highly-rated Poland in the friendly in Bydgoszcz. Coach Brown fielded a makeshift side and will have been delighted at the way they adapted to the international stage on foreign soil.

Poland looked to be heading for victory when substitute Radoslaw Kaluzny headed them in front early in the second half. But Scotland responded with great resilience and Scott Booth equalised from the penalty spot to earn a creditable draw.

It may have been only a friendly clash, but the well-organised Scottish side will have taken much confidence from their performance in front of a hostile Polish crowd. And Poland's frustration was summed up when the experienced Tomasz Iwan was sent off for a second bookable offence late on.

Scotland's makeshift line-up - fielding four new caps at the start - more than held their own against the highly-rated Poles in a low-key first half. Brown's side only had one serious moment of concern, when Poland had penalty appeals turned down by Spanish referee Juan Roca after 11 minutes. Poland danger man Marcin Zelakow tumbled under a challenge from Scotland goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, but referee Roca was unimpressed and waved away the penalty claims.

Scotland handed debuts to Dunfermline's Barry Nicholson, Dundee's Gavin Rae, Charlie Miller of Dundee United and Hibs' John O'Neil. And they were able to ease themselves into international action as Scotland coped comfortably with Poland's isolated threat.

Tomasz Zdebel was the main figure in the rare moments of creativity in a drab first half, and he almost ended the stalemate after 38 minutes. He turned inside the Scotland penalty area and floated a cross to the far post, but Pawel Kryszalowicz was unable to get a touch.

Scotland boss Brown made changes at half time, with Andy McLaren and Stevie Crawford replacing Colin Cameron and Billy Dodds. Poland made substitutions of their own - and they combined as the home side went ahead after 52 minutes. Calum Davidson was booked for a foul on Marcin Zewlakow, and the Scots were punished from the free kick. Giant striker Kaluzny, on at half time, got a lucky break when Kryznowek's free kick was touched on to his head by Sullivan and rebounded into the net.

Scotland handed out their fifth new cap after 54 minutes when Newcastle United youngster Stephen Caldwell came on for the tiring Charlie Miller. Poland's goal sparked Scotland into life, and Booth should have equalised after 63 minutes when he could only strike goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek from Crawford's pass.

Booth made amends six minutes later when he was given the opportunity to score from the spot after he was fouled by Kaluzny as he closed in on Crawford's pass. He recovered in time to strike the spot-kick high past Dudek and in via the crossbar.

Poland suffered another blow with nine minutes left when the experienced Iwan was sent off for his second bookable offence when he floored Scotland substitute Kenny Miller. And Scotland almost stole victory in the dying seconds when Rae was only inches away from converting substitute Scot Gemmill's cross.

Poland: Dudek; Klos, Zielinski (Kaluzny 45), Waldoch, Michal Zewlakow (Krzynowek 45); Hajto, Zdebel (Swierczewski 58), Iwan, Kozminski; Kryzalowicz (Zurawski 74), Marcin Zewlakow (Mieciel 62). Subs not used: Majdan, Mieciel, Zajac.

Scotland: Sullivan; Boyd, Dailly, Davidson (Weir 70); Nicholson, Rae, Cameron (Crawford 45), C Miller (S Caldwell 55), O’Neil (Gemmill 83); Dodds (McLaren 45), Booth (K Miller 79). Sub not used: Douglas.

Brown handed debuts to seven players and brought back Booth and Stevie Crawford after lengthy exiles. With the entire first choice midfield absent through injury or club commitments, and experienced campaigners such as Matt Elliott and Colin Hendry unavailable, Brown's selection had a makeshift look about it.

But he was delighted to discover that the players who had been waiting for their chances did not let him down. Booth netted the equaliser from the penalty spot after he had been fouled himself, and Brown confirmed that his one comeback match, his first since the World Cup finals in 1998, had been enough to make him a regular fixture in his squad.

He said: "I've always been enthusiastic about Booth as a player but I've been a bit frustrated that he didn't make the step. With little supply he was excellent and he didn't complain that he was heavily challenged all the time. He put himself about."

The seven debutants were Barry Nicholson, John O'Neil, Charlie Miller and Gavin Rae from the start with Andy McLaren, Stephen Caldwell and Kenny Miller coming on in the second half. Brown said: "You can't say any of them played badly. There wasn't a weakness."

It seemed however that two of the new boys had done especially well - Dunfermline defender Nicholson and Newcastle utility man Caldwell. Brown said of Nicholson: "He was excellent. We've been looking at him for a while because he is excellent at under-21 level." Caldwell too is already being earmarked as a future Scotland centre-half, although he played in midfield when he replaced Miller in the 56th minute. Brown said he believed that had Caldwell come on earlier then he might be able to prevent the Poles' goal which was a header from a free kick by substitute Radoslaw Kaluzny.

The Scots pride themselves on being well organised defending set pieces but on this occasion they were unhinged. Brown said: "If we had him on earlier I don't think we would have lost the goal but that's easy to say in hindsight. I don't think he's ready for the top level but he did very well when he came on."

He added: "I was very proud of the performance. We were missing Craig Burley, Paul Lambert, Barry Ferguson and Dominic Matteo, almost the whole midfield and I will have to think in future `Is Gavin Rae or John O'Neil better?' But what we do know now is that we can play them."

Brown also had words of praise for hall of fame member Tom Boyd, the 35-year-old veteran with almost 50 caps more than any other player in the team. Brown said: I was impressed by the way the back three defended and I thought Boyd was magnificent."