Mcleish says changes were vindicated as Naismith stars
● Hearts striker the hero as Scotland get Nations League win after Belgium rout
Alex Mcleish expressed his satisfaction with a 2-0 win over Albania that fully vindicated his selection choices.
The Scotland manager turned to Steven Naismith in the hope he could cure the international side’s goalscoring problems. The Hearts striker repaid his faith by scoring the second and playing a part in the first, an own goal by Berat Xhimshiti. The result takes Scotland to the top of their Nations League group ahead of a trip to Israel next month and gives Mcleish his first competitive victory in his second spell as manager.
“We deserved it,” said Mcleish. “We went at them from the first whistle. It was thoroughly deserved and it was good to see the first goal go in – even if it was a deflection.”
Mcleish said the result justified his decision to play Naismith ahead of Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths. The manager made four changes to the side that lost 4-0 to Belgium on Friday. Kilmarnock’s Stephen O’donnell came in at right wing back and Johnny Russell joined Naismith up front.
Allan Mcgregor replaced Craig Gordon in goal and made two superb stops to help preserve Scotland’s lead.
“I work with the players every day, you guys don’t,” said Mcleish. “I think I am well qualified to select who I choose.”
Naismith had been excluded from the original squad. But an injury to Oli Mcburnie gave the striker his chance.
“These situations can occur,” said Mcleish. “He was suffering with a heel injury and asked to stay at home for the summer tour and let it recover so he could start the season well. I said ‘if you start the season well I will consider you’.
“I did not put him in [originally] but if it is meant to be it is meant to be.”
Mcleish added: “I asked them to improve on situations against Belgium – they did that.
“Rome was not built in a day. i know the way football works. I am building a wall here. I am not papering over cracks. I want to build something with these players.”
Mcleish stressed he had a sense Russell and Naismith would work well together. “I wanted to do a pairing [Russell and Naismith]. I had a feeling about Johnny and Stevie was showing up well in training. We got Leigh on and he’s still very important to us as are all the guys who didn’t play.”
Mcleish challenged his players to build on the performance and result with another win in Haifa next month.
“That’s the goal for us,” he said. “It’s not easy. I can speak personally about a trip to Israel a long time ago when we got battered in the first half.
“We changed at half-time and got a Kenny Dalglish winner.
“It’s never easy away from home but we have the confidence.we are building things.”