Goal hero Christophe Berra said Scotland were rewarded for their patience with a late winner in the 1-0 victory against Northern Ireland . The Ipswich defender headed home in the 85th minute from a Matt Ritchie corner in the friendly at Hampden Park on Wednesday night . Scotland keeper Christophe Berra celebrates scoring the winner against Northern Ireland . Berra 's goal finally broke the resistance of Northern Ireland and goalkeeper Michael McGovern , who had frustrated Scotland with a succession of saves . He said : 'It was a difficult game , they made it very difficult . When teams do that it 's very hard to break them down . 'Sometimes games are won on set pieces and luckily enough I managed to get my head on the end of a good corner kick and it just sneaked in . ' Scotland boss Gordon Strachan was happy with a win and a clean sheet as preparation for Sunday 's Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar . Christophe Berra gets above his marker to head the ball into the corner for a late winner for Scotland . Bournemouth star Matt Ritchie , who made his debut in Wednesday night 's game , controls the ball in midfield . He said : 'The start was good , lots of efforts on goals , McGovern played very well but after half an hour it became a friendly feel . But we kept plugging away and doing the right things . And to win the game and keep a clean sheet is good . ' Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill insisted there more positives than negatives following the narrow defeat . He said : 'When you make so many substitutions , you are continually changing markers from set-pieces . Under normal circumstances , I do n't think we 'd have lost that goal - and it 's disappointing for Michael McGovern who had a good game . 'We can take an awful lot ( from the performance ) . We ended up with three 20-year-olds or under-20-year-olds on the pitch . The likes of Paddy McNair , Luke McCullough , Ryan McLaughlin - it 's great for those lads to get minutes in this type of game . ' Steven Fletcher gets a shot away but was unable to trouble goalkeeper Michael McGovern . The Sunderland striker is denied again by Michael McGovern as he goes through one on one .
Christophe Berra scored late winner for Scotland in friendly on Wednesday . Northern Ireland goalkeeper Gordon Strachan 's had kept home side at bay . Michael McGovern side face Gibraltar in Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday .