HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD
Hampden snore as McArthur’s header can’t hide dismal display
GORDON Strachan and Scotland may have rescued a point against an ordinary Lithuania side, but this was a dismal performance and one which suggested the national team are no closer to reaching a World Cup than under the previous regime.
The national team manager, not for the first time, could be accused of picking the wrong team, leaving out in-form players such as Leigh Griffiths and Kieran Tierney, and failing to get his formation and tactics right for what should have been a formulaic win at Hampden.
The World Cup in Russia must have felt an almost impossible dream to the supporters as they miserably trudged into the Glasgow night wondering why they put themselves through such anguish. It felt like a defeat.
Anything other than a win in Slovakia would mean Scotland having little chance of even finishing second in the group, what with two games against England still to come.
It would be hard to see Strachan carrying on if after three games his side have just four points and in many ways he has been the architect of his own downfall.
Griffiths and Tierney were the best players in the country last season, and while the inclusion of Andy Robertson at left-back was understandable, why Chris Martin was selected ahead of a striker who has scored goals consistently for 18 months is utterly perplexing.
There was little good football played by the home side. They deserve praise for battling for a draw but this was brutal.
Scotland’s tactics early on came from prehistoric times, with long balls punted rather from back to front. It wasn’t pretty to watch and had little effect.
An opportunity did come on 13 minutes from a free-kick which Matt Ritchie took, his cross from the right was a good one, and Callum Paterson was a little unlucky to see a header flash just wide. Then from another set-piece 35 yards from goal, Robert Snodgrass sent a shot a yard or so past the post. So far, so average.
Lithuania sat deep, content to soak up pressure and hope for something on the counter. Far from thrilling, but it was effective.
Scotland, however, did carve out an opportunity on 25 minutes when a determined Snodgrass forced his way into the Lithuania penalty box and crossed for a closely marked Martin who managed to get off a shot which crept across the goal.
Barry Bannan at least made Lithuania goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus work for his money on 36 minutes, but Scotland, both on the park and in the stands, was so flat. Something had to be done.
Half time came as something of a relief and it was the chance for Strachan to tweak his team. James McArthur came on for Darren Fletcher – who had been far from the worst on the night of his 75th cap – but nothing really changed.
The half was less than two minutes old when Scotland keeper David Marshall had to make a smart save from Arvydas Novikovas, then after some good play by the home side – the first time the Scots had strung together a few passes – Snodgrass was unfortunate to see a goalbound shot hit the head of a Lithuanian defender.
This was better. A goal almost came on 53 minutes when Andy Robertson got down the line and sent in a cross, but Martin’s header was just too wide.
James Forrest took the place of Oliver Burke, who had been one of the better performers shortly before the hour mark, and then disaster struck.
Scotland declined to challenge as Lithuania attacked, allowing Fiodor Cernych to play through Vykintas Slivka, whose first time pass returned to his team-mate with a ridiculous amount of space 10 yards from goal and he sent his shot between Marshall and the near post.
Forrest had an effort which flashed across the goal on 61 m inutes after more good play by Robertson and then Griffiths got his chance with 20 minutes remaining, Ritchie made way, but the next goal almost came from the visitors when Cernych got behind the Scotland defence and his effort was well hit but wide.
Griffiths did get a header on target on 78 minutes, which was too close to Setkus, but a goal was to come with minutes to go.
A long throw from Callum Paterson was flicked on by Grant Hanley and McArthur was alert enough to head the ball home from close range. It was an ill-deserved something, which is always better than nothing, but it in truth this was a bad night and one which reminded us all just how far Scotland are from where they want to be.
It would be hard to see Strachan carrying on if after three games his side have just four points
Scotland: Marshall, Paterson, R Martin, Hanley, Robertson, Snodgrass, Bannan, D Fletcher (McArthur 46), Ritchie (Griffiths 71), Burke (Forrest 57), C Martin. Subs Not Used: Gordon, Morrison, Maloney, Anya, S Fletcher, Berra,Wallace, Tierney, Hamilton. Booked: Hanley, McArthur.
Lithuania: Setkus, Vaitkunas, Freidgeimas, Girdvainis, Slavickas (Andriuskevicius 63), Cernych, Zulpa (Chvedukas 65), Kuklys, Novikovas, Valskis (Grigaravicius 85), Slivka. Subs Not Used: Zubas, Klimavicius, Mikuckis, Cesnauskis, Matulevicius, Verbickas, Paulius, Luksa, Klevinskas. Booked: Vaitkunas, Kuklys, Freidgeimas. Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany).