SLACK SCOTS SCRAPE BY
Dykes and Christie see off makeshift Czechs but it’s another dismal display under Clarke
The air of foreboding around the Andruv Stadium before kick-off should have belonged to a makeshift home team drawn up on the back of a fag packet. Not for the first time, however, it stemmed entirely from Scotland. If this was a team of Czech no-hopers, it might be wise to avoid their first team for a while.
For a high-tempo, eager-toplease host nation with just two capped players in the starting XI, this was pretty much a free hit. Decimated by a weekend Covid-19 scare, a hastily-assembled squad had nothing to lose.
The same could hardly be said of a Scotland side who spent most of the game slipping and sliding around on a banana skin, only daring to breathe again when a torrid second half was finally over.
The hallmarks of another international embarrassment were there from the start. An unfancied opponent in a state of turmoil. A game where defeat was pretty much unthinkable. Some ragged, porous defending during a game best viewed for long spells through the cracks of the fingers.
The loss of a dismal goal after 11 minutes justified the pre-match frown lines. Debutant Jakub Pesek opened the scoring with embarrassing ease, threatening to engulf Steve Clarke in an air of mild crisis ahead of next month’s euro play-off semi-final with Israel.
A first Scotland strike for Lyndon Dykes before the half hour was impeccably timed.
The Australian-born son of Dumfries parents has been one of the few bright spots of an unconvincing Nations League double header against Israel and the Czechs — Ryan Christie’s ability to convert high-pressure penalty kicks from 12 yards another.
The Celtic midfielder slotted Scotland into the lead after 51 minutes from a soft spot-kick won by captain Andrew Robertson. This was, in every sense, a hiding to nothing for Clarke’s team. A win was the absolute least expected of the Scots and they crept over the line in the end.
For long spells, all the fretting felt justified. An unheralded Czech side had numerous chances to score a second and Scotland had keeper David Marshall to thank for preventing a horrible outcome.
If Clarke knows his best team, then next month’s play-off against Israel would be the time to show it. The news of Norway, potential opponents in the playoff final, sticking five past Northern Ireland in Belfast was chilling. Right now, Scotland look all over the place.
Sportsmail columnist Kris Commons compared the team selection of Friday’s 1-1 draw with Israel to picking names from a tombola. The pick ’n’ mix approach continued here with the omission of Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, John McGinn, James Forrest and Ryan Jack.
In came Sheffield United’s John Fleck alongside Kenny McLean in midfield, while McTominay again looked unconvincing alongside Liam Cooper of Leeds and Scott McKenna in a back three.
Fine player though he is, McTominay is clearly no central defender. Defensively, Scotland were ragged from the start, the Czechs justifying the pre-match worry lines by taking an early lead. McLean was slack in possession in midfield, Tomas holes bursting forward to feed Stanislav Tecl — one of only two Czech starters with a cap to his name.
The No 11 picked out the run of Pesek as a static McTominay ball-watched. Marshall had no chance with a composed finish.
Suddenly this felt more Scottish than Irn Bru, square sausage and Oor Wullie put together. While the hosts were never likely to be a San Marino or Gibraltar — all their players came from Czech first division clubs — the ease with which they cut through Scotland at times was alarming.
Defensively, Liam Palmer doesn’t always convince. In attack, he was central to Scotland’s efforts to get back in the game.
The Sheffield Wednesday player had a key role in the equaliser, using acres of space on the right touchline to slide a delicious ball across the face of goal. Dykes slid in aggressively to ram the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards for his first international goal.
For Scotland, the former Livingston man — now with QPR — has been a real find. his first strike is unlikely to be his last.
Scotland edged in front for the first time six minutes into the second half. As against Israel on Friday, it stemmed from a generous interpretation of the rules by the referee.
Minutes after Robertson’s fine cutback picked out Christie for a blocked effort, the Champions League winner burst beyond the Czech backline once more.
Wrestling with Tomas Malinsky in a 50/50 tussle before tumbling to the ground suspiciously close to the 18-yard line, the spot-kick award was soft. Once again, Christie stood over the ball from 12 yards.
In contrast with Israel, he tucked the ball low into the corner of the net, keeper Ales Mandous coming close — but not close enough.
Far from being the catalyst for a comfortable Scotland win against second-rate opponents, the goal instead triggered a period of desperate defending. Make no mistake, Clarke’s team finished this game hanging on. In the final stages, it was panic stations.
Time and again, Marshall had to prevent a second Czech goal. Adam Janos was given too much time to lash a long-range strike at goal, the keeper tipping the ball round his left-hand post.
he was it again after 67 minutes, Pesek foiled by a terrific save with Tecl somehow stumbling over the rebound.
Marshall was beaten when McTominay was caught the wrong side for a free-kick conceded on the edge of the 18 yard box, but havlic’s effort curled inches wide.
The woodwork was Scotland’s best friend at times, a back post header from Rusek skimming the upright and running to safety.
The home team won one corner after another in the final stages. It was, at times, an excruciating watch. Yet, almost in spite of themselves, Clarke’s team found a way to a fifth straight game without defeat.