THE 14 YEAR ITCH.

Scotland 1 Czech Republic 0

When you have suffered a harsh red card decision in one of your biggest game of the season, what would be the best way to bounce back? For the perfect answer, enter Scott Brown.

Having captained Celtic and being sent off in the Old Firm defeat at Ibrox at the weekend, he would have been entitled to be low ebb.

But here was the perfect opportunity to put that game behind him, where according to reports he was perked up by his international team mates from based in Govan.

In fact this was the time when the national side were to come together as a unit under a new manager, kick start a new era, regain their confidence and put the last few turbulent years behind them.

And after a nervous start in a half filled Hampden Park against their Euro Qualifier opponents, the Scots showed promise of a brighter future when Barry Robson knocked back the ball to former Celtic team mater, Brown who thumped the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

There were plenty of talking points with regards to this game before a ball was even kicked.

Craig Levein's first game in charge and the return of the prodigal son, Kris Boyd.

Just over 26 thousand turned out to see Scotland get the new era off to a positive start and hopefully end the hoodoo of not recording a win in a friendly since 1996.

Despite sticking with some tried and trusted regulars, with Darren Fletcher donning the Captains arm band, the Scotland boss started with a number of new faces on the bench along with Andy Webster, teaming up with Gary Caldwell, Alan Hutton and Lee Wallace in a new look back four.

However it was a very nervous start by the Scotland rear guard, who appeared to be struggling to contain the Czech attack, who were passing the ball much better, posing a major threat at set pieces

As a result of the whole of the Scotland team were defending deep in their own half of the field losing possession far too easily.

And they almost pushed the self-destruct button when Fletcher pass across the box was picked up by Tomas Rosicky who fed the ball through to Vaclav Sverkos with just Craig Gordon to beat, forcing the Sunderland keeper to pull off a stunning save.

One major change forced on the Levein, with James McFadden failing a late fitness test and was replaced by West Brom's Graham Dorrans.

And even though the former Livingston player struggled to get past his man, he was more than making up for it showing terrific enthusiasm and energy and when Scotland finally got out of their half, set up their first real chance of the game, sending a terrify ball through to Barry Robson, who crossed the ball into the box to Kenny Miller, who was in a defensive sandwich unable to get the decisive touch from close range, with the ball headed clear for a corner.

But with the minutes of the half ticking away, Scotland appeared to be operating under the concept that the best form of defence was attack. And they were starting to put the visitors under pressure.

And on the stroke of half time, the Scots came close to opening the scoring against the run of play when a Robson curling free kick from the edge of the box pulled off an excellent diving save from Jaroslav Drobny.

As expected in any friendlies, changes were expected in personnel at the start of the second half, but not as expected, when Kris Boyd still taking his pace on the bench.

The introduction of Paul Hartley and Christophe Berra toughened things up for the Scots at the back and even though they had to sustain some early pressure from the Czechs they soon adopted a more solid base with Lee Wallace and Alan Hutton steeling more into the game.

And in 61 minutes man of the match, Dorrans, who must of covered every blade of the Hampden turf that night spun on the edge of the box and fed the ball to Wallace delivered who delivered a telling cross to the back post, with Robson heading the ball back to Brown who drilled the ball home from eight yards out.

Eventually the major talking point happened when the prodigal son, Kris Boyd returned to the fold as a direct replacement for Miller, where there were more cheers than boos for the Rangers striker

Even though he was up on his own, Boyd showed that he had matured as a player since his untimely exit in 2008, with some intelligent running and plenty examples of unselfish play.

And he was unfortunate late in the game when after some clever build up; his only shot at goal was ruled offside.

The Burley era is now over, the new era has begun. And there is definitely cause of optimism there.