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lceosp. HARRY KANE spent a few days with the Royal Marines and yesterday kept a cool head in the heat of battle to rescue a point for England.
Arsenal winger Alex OxladeChamberlain had put Gareth Southgate’s side ahead in the 70th minute – but Leigh Griffiths appeared to have given Scotland their first win over the Auld Enemy since 1999 with two free-kicks in the 87th and 90th minutes.
But Scots celebrations were cut short in added time when Kane volleyed home from close range to deny Gordon Strachan’s men.
It was yet another frustrating match for Scotland against the team they most want to beat.
Not since Don Hutchison headed past David Seaman at Wembley in November 1999 have Scotland overcome England.
No problem with the atmosphere at a throbbing Hampden Park – but manager Strachan was clearly aware of the maxim of one of his predecessors.
Craig Brown was in charge of Scotland that night in London when his team were deserved winners. They played with spirit but with cool heads.
“You never win a match wearing war paint,” was Brown’s warning to his players ahead of the clash.
It was a ploy that worked – and now Strachan wanted the same approach.
A win over Slovenia in March had revived Scotland’s hopes of a play-off spot from a Group F that has been dominated by England.
A 3-0 win over the Scots seven months ago had given Southgate’s men the psychological edge ahead of
hostilities. They toyed with their opponents that night – now for Strachan it was payback time.
History was not on his side. It was in 1985 – when Strachan was a player – that Scotland last beat England at Hampden.
But Scotland had Scott Brown. A warrior with all-conquering Celtic, he was a certainty to test the suspect temperament of Dele Alli. He did not disappoint.
After just two minutes and 31 seconds, he lunged in late on Alli with a reminder that this was his turf, not Wembley. He was booked by referee Paolo Tagliavento.
But it did not curb Brown’s intent in the tackle and for the first 20 minutes – lifted by the fervent crowd – Scotland had England worried with their pressure football. Ikechi Anya and Stuart Armstrong never gave the England defence a moment’s peace.
But gradually, England were able to control the pace and tempo.
They should have taken the lead when Kane controlled a long ball