Sweden B 1, Scotland B 2

KILMARNOCK striker Tom Brown, who was pulled into the Scotland set-up

just 12 hours before the squad left for Sweden, scored the goal which

gave the B team victory in Stockholm last night.

Brown replaced Scotland's other goal-scorer, their skipper Duncan

Shearer, in 78 minutes.

It was an inspired change because, just eight minutes later, it was

the Kilmarnock man who sent in a low shot which beat the Swedish keeper

and gave the Scottish shadow squad the victory they wanted.

Only 1232 fans -- including Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan, who made a

surprise appearance along with his club's commercial chief Freddie

Fletcher -- were in the Rasunda Stadium to see the game, but that will

not damage Brown's memory of his first goal at this level.

The front player, who not so long ago was starring in the Junior Cup

final, will relish this moment of fame.

Afterwards Scotland manager Craig Brown said: ''I was very pleased for

Tom Brown. He was hauled out of his house on Sunday night to join the

squad and here he is, in Stockholm, and scoring the winner.

''It was a typical strike from him and I think that we deserved to win

the game.''

The Scots had been in front after Duncan Shearer scored the opening

goal in 36 minutes. Rob McKinnon swung in a cross from the left and the

veteran Aberdeen hit man, captain for the night, sent a header beyond

the Swedish keeper Magnus Hedman to give the Scots a lead they deserved

at that stage of the match.

Beforehand, manager Brown had declared how much he would enjoy

watching the midfield which was paraded in this game. However, the men

he deployed in that area -- Paul Telfer, Alex Rae, Scott Gemmill, and

Paul Bernard -- did not show as much as the manager had hoped.

There were moments from all of them, but as a unit they did not excite

as much as Brown had predicted.

Telfer, playing wide on the right, and Gemmill, in the central area,

looked best. Both gave indications that they could step up to the full

side if required.

By half-time the Scots decided to change things. Bernard and Gerry

Creaney both went off to be replaced by Paul Lambert and Kevin Harper.

There were further changes from the management team of Tommy Burns and

Murdo MacLeod 13 minutes after the interval with Bryan Gunn and Colin

Cameron taking over from Nicky Walker and Rae.

By now the Scots had lost some of their earlier rhythm but in 68

minutes Harper moved on to a through ball from Steven Tweed, beat the

goalkeeper with his shot, only to see defender Andreas Jakobsson clear

his try just short of the line.

There were indications from the Swedes that they could produce

problems for the Scotland defence. In 75 minutes Bryan Gunn saved from

Andreas Andersson but two minutes later there was no way he could stop

the same player from equalising.

Mikael Hansson burst into the penalty box, sent the ball into the

heart of the penalty area and Andersson scored with a low shot.

It was then down to substitute Brown. He appeared in place of Shearer

12 minutes from the end, and eight minutes later he scored the goal

which will live in his memory.

Steve Tweed sent the ball forward, it broke from a defender, and there

was Brown to hit a low ball into the net. It was an opportunist's goal,

the kind of strike which has been the trademark of the Ayrshire front

man.

It was enough, in the end, to give Scotland a victory, enough to have

Craig Brown leaving this stadium with the boost he needed before

returning tonight with his full squad.

Said Brown: ''It is always good to get a win away from home. Any team

would be happy to do that.

''Paul Telfer did very well and I think, also, that Scott Gemmill

showed up very impressively in the middle of the park, while Kevin

Harper's pace was electrifying.

''There were many good things to be taken from this game. That is why

we wanted a B international, to see how certain players could perform at

this level.''

Scotland can be happy with the result. Perhaps the midfield did not

show the class Brown had hoped for, but his team were playing against a

nation who finished third in the last World Cup.

There were competent performances from the solid professionals such as

Brian Martin and Shearer. And there were bonuses from the younger

players such as Gemmill and Telfer. All of them looked as if they could

slot happily and comfortably into the first team.

Now Brown has to face the main Swedish side and look for a similar

performance, and hopefully, a similar result, in this same stadium

tonight.

Certainly the Scotland squad who watched the game will be heartened by

this victory.