GLASGOW: Despite a bitter soccer rivalry spanning more than a century, and a bumpy political landscape in recent months, Scotland and England's first clash since the Scots narrowly voted to remain within the United Kingdom passed off peacefully on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said there were very few arrests but would only have a confirmed number later on Wednesday.

The last time England played in Glasgow in 1999 there was widespread mayhem with more than 200 people arrested. This time around, however, the highly visible police presence throughout the city centre prevented trouble.

“The whole day went very well. There were minor incidents throughout the day but very, very few arrests,” a spokesman for Police Scotland said. “We've had no major incidents within the city area, and the match passed off very peaceably.”

The only sour note on an otherwise peaceful night came from a section of the England fans who chanted anti-IRA songs during the first half of the match at the home ground of Celtic, who have strong connections with Ireland.

The songs stopped after FA officials told the England supporters band to stop accompanying the chants at halftime.

England manager Roy Hodgson, when asked afterwards, said he was not aware of what the chants were but added: “No one in football can condone what they were chanting.

“If anyone was offended by it I am sure the FA would like to apologise for it but all we can do is play our football and be grateful for the support.

England's Wayne Rooney (L) heads to score against Scotland during their international friendly soccer match at Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow. — Reuters

“Hopefully they will all behave themselves and not put themselves into a situation where their chanting is being criticised.”

Apart from the usual jeering of the national anthems and opposition players, both sets of supporters were well behaved in and around Celtic Park, where a Scottish fan died on Friday in an accidental fall down a stairwell after Scotland's match against Ireland in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

A small shrine was erected in 20-year-old Nathan McSeveney's memory outside the main entrance to the stadium with shirts and scarves from Scottish teams including Celtic's arch-rivals Rangers, on display.

A minute's applause in his honour was impeccably observed by both sets of fans before the kickoff. England won the match 3-1 to record their sixth successive win since the World Cup.

Hodgson seeks England improvement all the way to Euro 2016

England ended their year on a high when they chalked up a sixth successive win with a 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland on Tuesday but coach Roy Hodgson says he expects even better as they approach Euro 2016.

England have won their opening four qualifiers in Group E and barring a stunning collapse will qualify for the 24-team finals in France 18 months' time.

Although their performances have not always been mesmerizing their results have been excellent and Hodgson's team now bears little resemblance to the one that endured a winless, dismal World Cup in Brazil five months ago.

England's Wayne Rooney celebrates his second goal during their international friendly soccer match against Scotland at Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow. — Reuters

Youngsters like right-back Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal, who scored the opening goal on Tuesday, and Luke Shaw of Manchester United, all showed refreshing drive and determination.

Skipper Wayne Rooney was outstanding with two more goals, taking his total to 46 for England, and he needs just four more to become the first Englishman to score 50 and eclipse Bobby Charlton's 49-goal record which has stood for nearly 45 years.

Hodgson said after the game: “We know that in France we'll have to be every bit as good as this, if not better. “We can get better, not least because so many players are so young. By France 2016 they will have so many more football matches under their belts.”

Matches between Scotland and England — an annual fixture from 1872 until 1989 — are always feisty affairs and Tuesday's maintained that legacy at Celtic Park.

Both Hodgson and Rooney hinted they would welcome the fixture returning on a regular basis, though Hodgson said the international calendar was so tight it might not be possible for it to become an annual fixture.

The teams also met at Wembley last year with England winning 3-2.