Lack of goals still a worry for Scotland

The new international season is under way for Scotland. Sports Editor Eric Nicolson discusses five talking points from the heavy defeat to Belgium

CAPTAIN ROBBO

Apart from singing the national anthem impeccably, not much was seen of new skipper Andy Robertson until the 14th minute when he got the chance to make one of his trademark dashes up the left wing.

Unsurprisingly given the calibre of the opposition, he spent more time near his own box than Belgium’s and the same was true of Ryan Fraser on the other side.

Robertson wasn’t at fault for any of the goals but Kieran Tierney will need more time to adjust to playing as the left-sided centre-back beside him.

THE REST OF THE DUNDEE UNITED OLD BOYS (AND A DUNDEE ONE)

Stuart Armstrong has already established himself at this level and you would expect John Souttar to do the same.

The 21-year-old’s distribution was up to his usual standard (unlike Charlie Mulgrew’s) and a timely intervention near the end of the first half denied Romelu Lukaku a second close-range goal. He won’t come up against forwards like Belgium’s too often.

Souttar will be no one cap wonder. There was a fear Kevin McDonald might be just that after a poor debut against Costa Rica. This was a bit better. The ex-Dundee man was disciplined at the base of midfield and far less wasteful with the ball than in March.

A Scotland regular, though? Probably not.

GOALS, WHERE ARE THE GOALS?

With Scotland’s problems keeping the ball out of their own net showing no sign of ending, issues at the other end tend to go under the radar.

Coming into this game the Scots had scored once in five internationals, with that solitary strike coming from a player who didn’t take part last night, Matt Phillips.

Leigh Griffiths will always have that free-kick double against England but the Celtic man’s statistics aren’t actually too clever.

This was his 18th appearance and the two that flew past Joe Hart were half of his grand total of four for his country.

He didn’t get a sniff last night, while his half-time replacement, Steven Naismith, had one good chance. There are certainly easier jobs than being a Scotland striker.

BELGIUM ARE PRETTY GOOD

The Tartan Army may have been starved of meaningful matches every other summer since 1998 but they have had the opportunity to watch the best of the best.

Three of the strongest international sides of the last 20 years have come to Glasgow in that time.

The French World Cup winners of 1998 beat the Scots in a 2000 friendly, with the likes of Desailly, Blanc, Petit and Henry on show.

Ten years later the greatest Spanish side of all time (which could afford to have Xavi as a substitute, would you believe) won 3-2, and three years ago another set of world champions, Germany, were made to fight for their narrow victory.

Belgium might not be quite as good as those three teams and many believe the ‘golden generation’ could have missed their golden opportunity in the summer.

They have enough world class players still in their 20s to disprove that theory, though. And even in such company, you couldn’t take your eyes of Eden Hazard last night. What a goal.

LET THE REAL STUFF BEGIN

It is now played five, won one and lost four for Alex McLeish in his seconds tin tin charge. The friendlies haven’t done much for his win percentage, nor confidence, but no Scottish fan will care if Monday night against Albania is the start of a better run of form. It’s all been shadow boxing so far, albeit last night felt pretty brutal. Let the Nations League begin.