Shaun Maloney scored a 76th-minute winner for Scotland in their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park this evening.

The winger curled home following a clever short-corner routine as the hosts recorded a 1-0 victory which takes them level on points with Ireland in Group D.

Scotland defender Grant Hanley, who had earlier been lucky to escape a red card, headed against his own crossbar in stoppage time of the first competitive international between these sides in 27 years.

Hanley hacked down Shane Long on 12 minutes as he threatened to go through on goal, but Serbian official Milorad Mazic did not believe that he had denied the Ireland striker a goalscoring opportunity and produced only a yellow card.

Perhaps that was a fair, with Long, who was preferred in attack to Ireland's record goalscorer Robbie Keane, having knocked the ball way ahead of himself, but Hanley could have been cautioned again when he led with his arm during an aerial challenge with Ireland stopper David Forde.

Amongst the controversy, there were first-half chances for either side as an early Jonathan Walters sighter called David Marshall into action, and the Scotland keeper also denied Darron Gibson from long range.

Steven Fletcher passed up a couple of golden chances for Scotland when he failed to keep down a free header from an early corner, and then somehow missed a sublime Maloney cross just prior to the break.

Ireland winger Aidan McGeady, who was booed on his return to Parkhead against the country of his birth, failed to have an impact, but Andy Robertson was dangerous for the hosts on the same flank.

One of several inviting deliveries from the Hull City left-back seemed bound for Steven Naismith, but his clever run was well checked by Stephen Ward, who made a crucial block at the near post.

McGeady came to life in the early stages of the second period, crossing for Walters to head narrowly over the bar before unleashing a skidding volley into the floor which Marshall stretched to palm clear.

Of the two former Celtic managers, Gordon Strachan turned to his bench first as Chris Martin came on for Fletcher, and the Derby Counter striker came as close as anybody had shortly after his introduction.

He guided just wide of the post following a good run and cross from Naismith, and the margins were even thinner minutes later when Walters headed Charlie Mulgrew's dangerous free kick against the woodwork.

At the end of their best spell of the match, Scotland scored the decisive goal as Scott Brown flicked into the path of Maloney after a short corner, and the playmaker bent beyond Forde into the far corner.

Martin O'Neill turned to Keane in a bid for another late equaliser - with Ireland having scored in the final moments of their games with Georgia and Germany - and they were nearly gifted one by Hanley.

Substitute Robbie Brady delivered into an inviting area, and Hanley was fortuitous again as he deflected the ball onto the crossbar as Scotland survived to collect three points which takes them joint second.

Scotland, Ireland and Germany are all level are seven points, three adrift of Group D leaders Poland.