MANAGER SALUTES SPECIAL
Harry Kane has scored for England. It is brilliant that in a pressure moment, he has executed a chance that was much harder than Harry actually made it look.
“I really do think it was a significant moment in that respect.”
England led 1-0 with just three minutes to go thanks to substitute Alex Oxlade-chamberlain’s stunning strike on 70 minutes.
But then Griffiths fired a wonderful 25-yard free-kick past Joe Hart’s left hand to bring Gordon Strachan’s men level.
And the Celtic striker then beat Hart on the opposite side in the 90th minute from a similar distance.
But with the Scots starting to celebrate a famous victory, Kane struck from close range.
While he took the plaudits many critics felt Hart should have done better with the free-kicks. The Manchester City keeper has spent the last year on loan at Torino since being ditched by Pep Guardiola.
Former England defender Gary Neville said: “The first goal is a good strike – but Joe Hart is beaten a metre inside his post. “Should he get there? Maybe. “But I think Hart should save the second goal. That is poor from the goalkeeper. Griffiths knows that if he gets it up and down then it’s a goal.
“And Hart doesn’t move his feet quick enough.”
But Southgate said: “I’ll have a look at the free-kicks again – but you also have to credit Leigh Griffiths for two outstanding strikes.
“Joe has been excellent this week. He has been one of the leaders of the group.
“He was composed with the ball at his feet, but he will be disappointed – because he is disappointed to concede any goal.
“It was just a minute-and-a-half and two moments of real quality.
“But, at 2-1 down, no one sunk to their knees.
“We didn’t throw the towel in. Was this what we wanted? No, because we came here to win.
“But our overall objective is to qualify and when you look at how the game went, it means we have to be happy with a point.”
Scotland boss Strachan added: “This could be one of Scotland’s best results, ever.
“What my players did was go beyond the call of duty because it is so hard to play against a team as big and as strong as England.”