Martin silences the boo boys
It wasn’t the greatest goal Chris Martin will ever score but that didn’t matter as Scotland kept their slim hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018 alive.
Manager Gordon Strachan said it was a must win game and you have to believe there were a few national newspaper sub-editors scrambling to re-design their sports sections following Martin’s last gasp winner.
Had his side not picked up the win at a half-empty Hampden, there’s every chance Strachan may have already resigned.
Such are the fine lines of international football .
Had Martin’s strike rebounded the other side of the post, the shameful section of the Tartan Army who booed him as he came on would have felt entirely justified.
As it turned out, the on loan Fulham striker shoved the criticism right down their throats.
Unfortunately the booing of Scotland players is nothing new and I just don’t understand what goes through some supporters heads while they are doing it.
I still remember the shameful scenes in 1999 when Gary McAllister decided to end his international career after being jeered for 90 minutes against the Czech Republic at Celtic Park.
Two years later McAllister won the treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Liverpool as he enjoyed a fairytale ending to his career.
The booing of Martin at Hampden on Sunday was far less than anything McAllister suffered but it did leave a sour taste in the mouth.
And it was all the more satisfying to see the delight on the big striker’s face as he wheeled away to celebrate with his team-mates.
In truth it was exactly what Scotland deserved.
There was only one team that were trying to win the match with Slovenia content to sit in and settle for a point.
Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong was outstanding on his debut while Wishaw’s own Keiran Tierney gave an accomplished performance in an unfamiliar right back position.
That being said how the Scotland boss decided to leave Stoke right back Phil Bardsley out of the squad when we had no recognised right sided defenders in the starting line-up last night beggars belief.
The challenge for
It was exactly what Scotland deserved