Player Ratings
SCOTT BAIN 5.0 Helpless as a capitulation unfolded in front of him. Made a fine save to deny Kuat but exposed again as Zainutdinov headed home the third. LIAM PALMER 4.5 Was selected ahead of Stephen O’Donnell and was routinely exposed on his international debut. Must wonder what on earth he’s signed up for. DAVID BATES 4.0 Couldn’t get to grips with the movement of the Kazakhs. Seemed a yard off the pace from the start and went further into his shell after a nightmarish opening. SCOTT McKENNA 4.0 Ball watching as Pertsukh drifted in behind to open the scoring and outjumped as Zainutdinov killed the contest. Much work to do to rebuild his reputation at this level. GRAEME SHINNIE 3.5 Doesn’t play left-back much these days and all over the place. Identified as Scots’ weak spot and that was evident as the Kazakhs swept into a two-goal lead in ten minutes. CALLUM McGREGOR 5.0 Won’t reflect on the night he skippered his country with any fondness. The Celtic midfielder tried to inspire those around him but it was like pushing water up a hill. STUART ARMSTRONG 5.0 Sprayed a couple of promising early passes to the front three but soon found himself back-pedalling. Denied a consolation by fine save by Nepogodov. JOHN McGINN 4.5 Was expected to be the ball of energy between defence and attack but seemed to be everywhere the ball had just been for 70 forgettable minutes before subbed. JAMES FORREST 4.0 Another fine player who simply flatlined. Lost his individual battle hands down. Night was summed up by a weak-as-water right-foot volley just before the hour mark. OLI McBURNIE 4.0 Rarely has Steven Fletcher’s hold-up play been more badly missed. Swansea man was a square peg in a round hole. Didn’t make a dent in the Kazakh back four. OLIVER BURKE 4.5 Some early promise on the left of the front three gave way to a rudderless display. For a player who’s enjoying life at Celtic, he looked curiously out of sorts. SUBSTITUTES Russell (McBurnie 60), McTominay (McGinn 70), McNulty (Forrest 81). Not used: McLaughlin, Kelly, O’Donnell, Souttar, Findlay, Fleck, McLean, Morgan. ALEX McLEISH 3.0 Even allowing for the plethora of no-shows and call-offs, this was miles away from being acceptable. The credit for securing a Nations League play-off evaporated as his team fell apart.
KAZAKHSTAN (4-5-1): Nepogodov; Vorogovskiy, Maliy, Postnikov, Erlanov (Akhmetov 81); Suyumbayev, Pertsukh, Kuat, Merkel, Zainutdinov (Muzhikov 84); Murtazaev (Turysbek 68).