Scotland fell to a 1-0 defeat against Holland in a low-key friendly encounter at Pittodrie.
The Scots looked promising in spells, in front of an impressive crowd of 17,833, but Memphis Depay’s first-half strike turned out to be the winner for the Dutch in the first international match in Aberdeen since 2013.
Interim manager Malky Mackay had been ruled out of the running for the post in the hours leading up to the game by SFA chief executive Stewart Regan. Having already freshened up the squad from that which failed to reach next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia under previous manager Gordon Strachan, Mackay handed starts to Aberdeen midfield pair Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie, with Inverness-born Christie making a particularly lively impression on his Scotland debut.
Former Reds player Ryan Jack, now at Rangers, made his first national team appearance at right back and was booed by sections of the Pittodrie crowd on his first appearance back in the north-east since his summer switch. Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie was among the substitutes, but was not handed his first Scots appearance.
Scotland began brightly and passed up a fine double opportunity to take the lead on seven minutes when Matt Phillips and James Forrest both saw efforts blocked by the Dutch backline in quick succession.
Defender Kieran Tierney, who skippered the side at the age of just 20, saw a long-range attempt well beaten away by Cillessen on 36 minutes, however the visitors took the lead on the counter-attack just five minutes before the interval. Following the breakdown of a Scotland attack, Georginio Wijnaldum released Ryan Babel to cross for Depay to bundle home from close-range, albeit with a strong suspicion of offside.
Scotland pressed for an equaliser at the start of the second-half, with John McGinn sending a shot narrowly wide from distance, while Callum McGregor saw a powerful shot saved by Cillessen.
The hosts’ best chance of an equaliser came on 72 minutes when former Dons midfielder Ryan Fraser, on as a substitute just 60 seconds earlier, took a sublime touch past defender Nathan Ake but stabbed his effort wide from 16 yards. Fellow substitute Jason Cummings shot straight at Cillessen late on, with the hosts unable to find a breakthrough.
