PLAYER RATINGS
SCOTLAND (4-3-3) DAVID MARSHALL 7 The Wigan Athletic goalkeeper had a solid game, making some fine saves. No chance at either of the Russian goals. STEPHEN O’DONNELL 5 The Kilmarnock full-back was given a chasing down the left-hand side and lost the dangerous Zhirkov as he scored Russia’s second. LIAM COOPER 5.5 Handed a harsh lesson on his international debut. Out of position at Russia’s equaliser. Lost Golovin as he set up the second goal. CHARLIE MULGREW 6 Called upon due to an injury crisis, the veteran defender had a decent first half but endured a torrid second 45 minutes. ANDY ROBERTSON 6 Not up to his usual high standards, the Scotland captain inadvertently assisted Russia’s first half equaliser. JAMES FORREST 6 The Celtic attacker could not get forward as the Russians continued to torch the Scots down the left flank. SCOTT McTOMINAY 6 Symptomatic of the whole Scotland team, the Man Utd kid started well in the middle of the park but faded out of the game. JOHN McGINN 6 Needed to transfer his club form to his country. McGinn scored his first Scotland goal but slowly fell out of the match. CALLUM McGREGOR 6 A tireless shift from the Celtic midfielder but his slack pass to Fraser was feasted on by Fernandes for the Russian’s second. RYAN FRASER 6 Bournemouth’s assist specialist’s dangerous expert deliveries led to McGinn’s first-half opening goal. OLI McBURNIE 6 Some decent hold-up play by the £20million Sheffield United man but he never looked like scoring.
SUBSTITUTES
Ryan Christie (McGinn 62) Kenny McLean (Forrest 62) Matt Phillips (McTominay 78) Not used: Jack, MacGillivray, Russell, Snodgrass, McLaughlin, Armstrong, Taylor, Bates, Devlin. STEVE CLARKE 6 Wanted an upset but lucky the result was not worse RUSSIA (4-4-2) ALVIM MARINATO 4.5 Abysmal attempt at dealing with Ryan Fraser’s cross presented John McGinn with a chance he could scarcely miss. MARIO FERNANDES 6 Didn’t do enough to block Fraser’s cross as Scotland took the lead. Denied a third goal for Russia by superb Marshall save. ANDREI SEMENOV 6 Struggled to handle McBurnie at first. Once he had time to get his foot on the ball he found his men with string of passes. GEORGI DZHIKIJA 6 Misplaced header saw Stephen O’Donnell strike the upright. Made most of an Oli McBurnie challenge but returned to the field. FYODOR KUDRYASHOV 6.5 Looked tentative from the first whistle but neither James Forrest or Stephen O’Donnell gave him a stern enough examination. MAGOMED OZDOEV 7 Well occupied by McGinn’s repeated thrusts up the middle. Somehow avoided a booking for professional foul on O’Donnell. ROMAN ZOBNIN 6.5 Little change out of Andy Robertson down Russian right in opening half hour but then put pressure on Scots skipper. Booked. ALEKSEI IONOV 7 Nowhere for half an hour but showed his quality as the Russians took control. He helped swing the momentum to visitors. ALEKSANDR GOLOVIN 8 Bobbed and weaved in behind the striker. Missed two good chances but his beautifully timed run in behind led to winner. YURI ZHIRKOV 7 Sent a looping shot onto the roof of the net but he forced the winner. Strayed into dangerous pockets of space often. ARTEM DZYUBA 7.5 Denied by Charlie Mulgrew then David Marshall but got break of the ball off Robertson to hit leveller.
SUBSTITUTES
Barinov (for Zobnin 66 min) Erokhin (for Ionov 80) Akhmetov (for Golovin 89) Not used: Smolov, Neustadter, Lunev, Dzanaev, Petrov, Karavaev, Miranchuk, Cheryshev, Belyaev. STANISLAV CHERCHESOV 7 The Russians deservedly won thanks to his tactics. REFEREE ANASTASIOS SIDIROPOULOS 7 Got all the big decisions correct but was perhaps overly lenient