Strachan says thanks to the football gods
SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan thanked the ‘footballing gods’ last night as Scotland remain tantalisingly close to a World Cup play-off spot after a lastgasp winner against ten-man Slovakia.
On a night when his side hit the crossbar twice and visiting goalkeeper Martin Dubravka pulled off a string of world-class saves, it looked as if it was to be heartbreak at Hampden Park once again.
That was until substitute Ikechi Anya played in an 88th-minute cross from the right that had defender Martin Skrtel struggling under pressure from Chris Martin. Skrtel turned the ball into his own net.
It was that little bit of luck which Scotland so richly deserved after all their effort throughout an enthralling encounter.
Slovakia began in hot-headed fashion as Robert Mak was booked for rough contact, while Juraj Kucka and Marek Hamsik were shown yellow for unsporting conduct.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men inside 20 minutes when Mak was sent off for diving.
Now the focus for Strachan’s men turns to Sunday’s match against Slovenia — safe in the knowledge that victory in that final encounter will guarantee them a place in the draw for the play-offs next month.
‘I genuinely thought we were going to score a goal,’ said Strachan. ‘It would be a huge disappointment if we didn’t. I have got to say that was some performance. There is no doubt about it that the man of the match for them was their goalkeeper. He was magnificent — and the crossbar was good as well.
‘The 14 boys changed the result from being a draw into a victory. It says a lot about their fitness because you have to have that fitness to have mental strength. We got all these great performances and the footballing gods have decided to give us a victory.’
Captain for the night Darren Fletcher finished the game with his head heavily bandaged after a nasty knock to his ear which is likely to require a number of stitches.
But even that wound could not disguise his joy at a result that left Hampden rocking.
‘When you create chances, you know you are going to get a few more,’ he said. ‘Even though the ball wasn’t going in the back of the net we were creating chances. Down to 10 men, they are going to get tired and we just kept believing.
Scotland had plenty of chances to take the lead, but were denied by the excellent Dubruvka throughout.
Barry Bannan, Leigh Griffiths and James Morrison all forced fantastic saves out of the goalkeeper as Scotland were unable to break the deadlock.
‘You have to stay patient,’ added Strachan. ‘You have to be patient. We were so unlucky all game but it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there in the end.
‘Down to 10 men everyone expects you to bowl them over and sometimes it makes it more difficult because you don’t know whether to stick or twist.
‘You have to wear them down and we did that. We stuck with it and didn’t get frustrated.
‘I’m so happy for everyone but we still have a job to do in Slovenia. That is massive now.’