Forsyth caught cold by Dublin baptism of fire
CRAIG FORSYTH admits he was as surprised as anyone by Gordon Strachan’s decision to grant him a competitive Scotland debut in Dublin.
The Derby County left-back was included ahead of both Andy Robertson and Steven Whittaker, but only learned he would be in the team on Saturday morning.
Strachan’s unexpected call threatened to backfire as Forsyth endured a decidedly nervy first half, albeit he steadied somewhat in the second period as the Scots secured a vital Euro 2016 point.
The 26-year-old former Dundee player had previously featured in friendly outings against Nigeria, Northern Ireland and Qatar, yet being plunged into a such a high-pressure game was a very different experience.
‘It was only in the morning that I found out I was starting,’ said Forsyth. ‘ There was a team meeting and the gaffer named the side. He went through the set-pieces and I must confess that it was a bit of a surprise for me. But I was delighted to finally make my competitive debut.
‘Obviously, before the game I had a little bit of nerves, but I think that’s only natural.
‘It was the magnitude of the game, but you just have to try to play your natural way.
‘None of my family travelled over (to Dublin) and, like I say, I didn’t expect to be picked either. They all watched it back home on television.’
Ireland set about targeting Forsyth as a perceived weak link, with the physical power of Jon Walters causing him problems.
Asked for an honest assessment of his performance, Forsyth said: ‘I thought I did alright. I could have done a bit better on the ball. I had a few sloppy passes and there was one where I gave them a breakaway. But overall I was happy with how I played.
‘It was a massive international, different from club level, and there was so much at stake.
‘ The atmosphere and the occasion was huge, while their fans and ours were lively. I felt I handled it well.
‘It was a good test for me. Walters is a good, physical player and they played a lot of long balls up to him. But I felt I coped alright. We are in the middle of the close- season and you can get sharper and fitter.
‘Hopefully, though, I think the Qatar game showed what I can do going forward and I felt that I did OK defensively against Ireland.’
Forsyth admitted the show of faith from Strachan was a huge lift to him on personal level.
‘It gave me a massive confidence boost that the manager was prepared to put me in for my first start in that occasion and knowing what the game meant to everybody,’ he added.
‘I’ve played in the (English) Championship Play- Off Final, but this was probably above that. So, yes, it probably was my biggest game so far.
‘When you first come into the Scotland set-up, you get your eyes opened a bit by the standard of the boys.
‘Gradually, you get up to speed and then you try to make an impression. I think and I hope over the last year that’s exactly what I’ve done.’
Midfielder James Morrison, meanwhile, was central to Scotland’s improved showing after the break.
While ‘delighted’ to depart Dublin with what could yet prove a pivotal point in the campaign, he questioned UEFA’s scheduling of matches deep into June.
‘The game should have been played during the season, not with the lads having had four weeks off and trying to play that match,’ argued the West Brom star.
‘As professionals, we had to be prepared for it but, I’m not going to lie, it was tough. We managed to grind our way through it.
‘It could have been played when we faced Gibraltar (in March). We had a f ri endly ( against Northern Ireland) before we played Gibraltar, so why didn’t we play those two games at the same time?
‘It would have been a good occasion but, for the neutrals, I think that was still a good game.
‘It was like an old-fashioned derby with plenty of challenges going in. There were two good goals and I think the fans enjoyed it.’
The result keeps Scotland very much in the hunt for automatic qualification, trailing Germany by two points and section leaders Poland by three.
Georgia and Germany are next up for the Scots in September before a potentially decisive home meeting with Poland the following month.
‘I think they can feel us breathing down their necks,’ said Morrison. ‘Anything c an happen at Hampden. We have beaten some good teams there and given others a really good game.
‘If we can get the fans to back us like they did in Dublin, then we will see what happens.
‘We have that in our minds but we have to play Georgia first. I think that will be a bigger one than Poland. We will have a rest and then gear up for that one.’