The final insult for distraught Tartan Army
ripped away from there, yet it was with Katanec’s switches paying off almost instantly. Midfielder Rajko Rotman forced Gordon into a save before the decision from Strachan’s old nemesis that changed the entire situation.
Fletcher’s challenge on Ilicic looked fair enough but Eriksson took an age before deciding it was a foul. It looked extremely harsh and the punishment was severe.
Ilicic curved the free-kick to the far post and Bezjak stole around the back to head home. It was a punch in the guts. The decision was so sore and it was almost fate the goal would come from it. The whole mood changed.
Gordon was forced to make smart stops from Bezjak and Ilicic as his team rocked against the ropes.
With a third to go it had become frantic – do or die. Tierney got away with a nudge in the box on Bezjak, while sub Ikechi Anya shot at Oblak when he could have played Griffiths in before a brutal blow 18 minutes from time.
Strachan’s defence didn’t deal with a corner and Bezjak was able to steer home a finish. It was almost too hard to watch. Fletcher blazed a great chance over yet there was still drama as sub Snodgrass flicked home a finish three minutes from the end.
When Phillips’s deflected cross in an incredible conclusion almost dribbled into the net before being scrambled clear it was like being kicked in the face.
So typically painful. So typically gut-wrenching yet almost a new level of pain. LAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON