International firsts for Cork and MacDonald

Last updated : 17 November 2010 By Tony Scholes
Alex MacDonald
Alex MacDonald - Scotland Under-21 debut
Cork was named in Stuart Pearce's starting line up yesterday for their friendly against Germany in Wiesbaden. For Cork it was a ninth cap but the first time he's started a game. Overall it wasn't a successful night for England who suffered their first away defeat in five years.

Whilst Cork played the full game, England had to play out the last half hour with ten men after goalkeeper Jason Steele, who had come on as a substitute for the second half, was sent off with Arsenal's Henri Lansbury going in goal.

There was better news for the Scots tonight who beat Northern Ireland under-21s 3-1 at Partick Thistle's Firhill Stadium, again in a friendly.

MacDonald had been called up for the first time for the under-21s and although he didn't get a start he came on at half time for Leigh Griffiths and caused the Irish defence some problems. He wasn't able to find the net but forced Irish goalkeeper Wayne Drummond into a couple of saves.