Scotland 1-1 Canada - BBC Sport
Steven Naismith scores the equaliser as Scotland labour to a 1-1 friendly draw with Canada at Easter Road.
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Steven Naismith scored the equaliser as Scotland laboured to a friendly draw with Canada at Easter Road.

Falkirk's Fraser Aird produced a fine finish to put Canada ahead following poor defending from the hosts.

Untidy play at the other end allowed Naismith to level, the forward diverting in Tom Cairney's shot.

Neither team created much in the second half but Canada, world ranked 117, looked as likely to find a winner as their hosts in front of 9,158 fans.

Scotland are currently second-bottom of Group F going into Sunday's World Cup qualifying match against Slovenia at Hampden.

Stewart Regan, the Scottish FA chief executive, and national boss Gordon Strachan have said Sunday's fixture is a "must-win" for the nation's qualifying hopes.

With a crucial qualifier just a few days away the Scotland fans who turned out on a miserable night in the capital would have been expecting a performance against Canada that would give them hope heading into the Slovenia match on Sunday.

But on this performance there was little for the hardy few to cheer about.

The centre-back pairing of Christophe Berra and Charlie Mulgrew were opened up ever so simply time after time in the first half. Up front Chris Martin struggled to hold on to the ball with a first touch as heavy as the Easter Road surface.

In former Scotland youth players Aird and Scott Arfield the visitors had the two best players on the pitch, with Toronto-born Falkirk winger Aird, whose parents are Scottish, scoring his first international goal.

He capitalised on some calamitous defending by Lee Wallace and had several chances to add to his tally.

Burnley's Scottish-born midfielder Arfield, who has a Canadian father, went off injured late on to be replaced by Charlie Trafford.

The Canada goal after 11 minutes stunned the crowd into silence. Not that they had much to cheer about, but there were a couple of encouraging displays for Strachan's side.

With no natural right-backs in the squad, Derby County's Ikechi Anya was again given the role after playing the position in November's defeat by England. And the 29-year-old proved once again his versatility, going forward at every opportunity and attempting to link up with both Robert Snodgrass and debutant Tom Cairney.

And in Cairney, there was a player who at times showed a willingness to get forward and support his strikers. It was his shot that was turned in by Naismith for Scotland's equaliser.

Apart from a cross from Snodgrass that hit the post, there was little else for the fans to cheer about.

Anya will likely continue at right-back on Sunday and although there were appearances in the second half for John McGinn, Leigh Griffiths and Jordan Rhodes, none looked to have done enough to force their way into the starting line-up, with Rhodes passing up a late chance.
• None Substitution, Canada. Charlie Trafford replaces Scott Arfield because of an injury.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Scott Arfield (Canada) because of an injury.
• None Attempt blocked. Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
• None Offside, Scotland. Robert Snodgrass tries a through ball, but Leigh Griffiths is caught offside.
• None Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
• None Attempt blocked. Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Darren Fletcher with a through ball.
• None Attempt missed. Fraser Aird (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Nikolas Ledgerwood.
• None Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Scotland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page