THERE weren’t many convinced by the merits of this match before it took place.

By the time the drab, depressing 1-1 stalemate with world superpower Canada was eventually brought mercifully to an end, the 9158 who laughed in the face of sense and plummeting temperatures to witness it were probably still non the wiser.

A three-quarters empty Easter Road was the venue for this friendly match just four days before a win-or-bust World Cup qualifier with Slovenia at Hampden. A damning indictment to where we are on the international stage if ever there was one.

Given a fairly crippling start to Group F that has only offered up the bounty of four points, Gordon Strachan insisted in the run up to this game that he was pleased to have it in order to run the rule over some of his squad players, particularly those not getting regular game time with their respective clubs.

To give the Scotland manager credit, there were those who did impress. Tom Cairney of Fulham was an eager force through the middle and had a hand in the goal, while it was refreshing to get a good look at Bundesliga starlet Oliver Burke in a dark blue shirt.

However, this was a night for Scotland’s supporters to not see their questions answered but simply added to.

The hosts may have seen plenty of the ball and popped it about with freedom at the final third, but at times a Canada side ranked 117th in the world were allowed to cut through the Scotland defence with ease.

Former Rangers man Fraser Aird, who now plies his trade with Falkirk, looked like Lionel Messi at times as he pierced through the resistance in front of him. He got one for his nation, he easily could have got another two.

Burnley man Scott Arfield was also influential in his team’s buoyant display. The few who were here to watch him would surely agree.

Major questions have to be asked surrounding this fixture. Firstly why play it in the first place, secondly why charge punters through the nose to watch it and thirdly why have it on telly.

As the eyes of the country watched from home – well, at least those not tuned into the Germany v England game – they would have been forgiven for thinking they were watching an U21 match given the attendance.

Three out of the four sweeping green stands here only had one tier open, and I’d go as far as suggesting there would have been more atmosphere on the moon than in Easter Road for this one.

Anyway, back to the matter of the game. Sorry.

True to his word, Strachan rested all six of Celtic’s contingent from the starting line-up. Allan McGregor was put in goal, Lee Wallace slotted in at left-back while through the middle Tom Cairney and Darren Fletcher did the leg work. You’d not be surprised if Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong found their way back in by the time Sunday comes.

Upfront, Norwich’s Steven Naismith played just off Chris Martin and it was the former Rangers man who got on the end of a Ikechi Anya cross after just four minutes, but it his glancing header flew just wide.

Then came the Canadians.

Only a couple of minutes later ex-Falkirk midfielder Arfield jinked infield to the edge of the box only to rifle a shot just over. It would soon become clear this was a warning shot across the bow.

On 10 minutes an already pretty stale stadium was stunned into complete silence. A cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by Scotland and Wallace eventually saw the ball ricochet off him to the path of his former club mate Aird. The 22-year-old needed no further encouragement and sent a shot high to McGregor’s right and into the net.

This seemed to rouse Scotland. Well, a bit. A Robert Snodgrass cross on 12 minutes came thudding off the post and back out, while not long after Martin was denied by Simon Thomas in the Canada goal from close range.

However, Canada would not lie down. Again, it was Aird who sliced their hosts open, easily dancing his way across the edge of the home box to get a clear sight of goal. They were only saved as his shot flew just wide. Another scare was only around the corner as Simeon Jackson of Walsall watched his deflected shot from the edge of the box loop on to the roof of the net.

Burke went close on half an hour as Thomas again stood firm, but an unlikely – and underwhelming – Scotland leveller eventually arrived on 34 minutes.

Rangers full-back Wallace did well to overlap on the left and swing in a ball that wasn’t dealt with. It eventually landed at the feet of Cairney at the edge of the box, and his wayward volley was diverted towards goal and into the net by Naismith.

Aird continued to pose a threat in the second half. McGregor tipped a rasping drive over while another skimmed the bar. At the other end, the introduction of Leigh Griffiths and Jordan Rhodes offered little goal threat under they combined in the dying moments for the latter to fluff his lines.

The boos at the end murmured around the ground rather than echoed. If a similar showing is turned in on Sunday, Strachan and his players will surely hear a Hampden roar of discontent.