5 THINGS we learned from Kazakhstan...

1 ALEX McLEISH’S neck is back on the block... This was humiliation on an epic scale, one of the very worst results Scotland have recorded in the long history of the national team. It places the manager somewhere behind square one. No one anticipated an easy encounter. But the sheer scale of Scotland’s ineptitude against a team ranked 117th in the world — who had only beaten Andorra in their last 16 competitive outings — was shocking. Call-offs cannot be an excuse. 2 WE have a long 12 months ahead... The countdown to the Euro 2020 play-offs is already underway. After this shambles, direct qualification looks about as likely as a smooth, harmonious end to Brexit. The backstop secured — just — via the Nations League is where hope will now be invested if Scotland are not to miss out on a party on our own doorstep. But, after this, does anyone feel confident about progression next March? 3 THE long flight to Kazakhstan still curdles Scottish talent... Our clubs had previously visited the former Soviet state on four occasions — and not managed a win. Celtic lost to Shakhter Karagandy before a defeat and a draw against Astana. On each occasion, they still managed to progress on aggregate. Aberdeen crashed out of the Europa League after a loss to Kairat Almaty. The difference, of course, is that Kazakh club sides are augmented by imported, expensive talent. Yesterday’s opponents were not. 4 EXPERIENCE can count... With an average age just a shade over 24-and-a-half years old, this was the youngest Scotland team for a competitive match since the 1970s. More pertinent was the lack of caps, even among the elder starters. James Forrest was the only player to number more than 15 senior appearances. Callowness doesn’t explain the appalling performance — but it might have contributed. 5 GRAEME SHINNIE is no longer a left-back... Singling out individual players is unfair given the collective nature of the hopelessness but the Aberdeen midfielder was all at sea when reverting to his former position. It’s not his fault that Andy Robertson was sidelined by a dental abscess before Kieran Tierney became a late injury call-off. But the Kazakhs ruthlessly exploited his lapses in awareness as they sliced open a makeshift Scottish defence time and again.