Scotland left shivering in a
First blood but Snodgrass sent off and Wales turn it around
Scotland Hanley (45) Wales Ramsey (73pen), Robson-Kanu (74)
1
2 Fletcher’s abrupt departure was a significant early setback for Strachan, who would have been optimistic that the Sunderland man could have troubled the Welsh defence. He was replaced by Kenny Miller, but along with his teammates the substitute would see little of the ball for the next 25 minutes or so.
Wales controlled territory and dominated possession with an ease that bordered on embarrassment for Scotland and certainly incurred the ire of the Tartan Army, who were not slow make their displeasure known.
Scotland’s efforts to get the ball quickly became desperate, Robert Snodgrass booked for a lunging foul on Chris Gunter just moments after he was fortunate to escape a caution for an arguably poorer challenge on Joe Ledley.
More hesitation in the Scottish defence, with Hanley allowing a through ball to bounce through to the unprepared Allan McGregor, let Gareth Bale in but the Welsh dangerman was unable to capitalise.
There was finally some respite for Scotland in the 22nd minute when Chris Burke burst free down the right a point to say Scotland deserved their lead when it arrived, but there had been signs it was coming. Hanley atoned for his less than convincing work at the other end of the pitch when he broke free of his marker Sam Ricketts and headed home Charlie Mulgrew’s well delivered corner from the right from close range.
The weather may have remained of the near Arctic variety, but Scotland’s prospects suddenly seemed much rosier. Bale’s failure to appear for the start of the second half, replaced by Jonathan Williams after sustaining an injury in a hefty challenge from Hanley just before the break, would be regarded as an added bonus by the home side.
There was greater purpose and fluidity about the Scots as they went in pursuit of a second goal. Dorrans was the first to threaten it, driving a shot narrowly over and a rapid burst from Burke had stretched the Welsh defence.
Scotland’s midfielders were now on the front foot more often, Maloney’s movement causing particular problems for Wales. A quickly taken free kick by Snodgrass sent the Wigan man free on the left side of the penalty area and his low cross was scrambled clear by Ricketts. Snodgrass was unfortunate not to double Scotland’s lead in the 54th minute. His swerving left foot shot from just outside the penalty area had Boaz Myhill beaten, only for the ball to smack back off the Welsh goalkeeper’s left hand post.
Wales were significantly less menacing without Bale but could perhaps consider themselves to be harshly denied an equaliser just before the hour mark. Williams lofted a cross into the six-yard box and McGregor dropped the ball under pressure from Andy King who hooked it home from close range. French referee Antony Gautier ruled that McGregor had been fouled, which seemed generous to the goalkeeper.
But just as it had in Cardiff five months earlier, the tide turned against Scotland in the latter phase of the match. The Welsh leveller in the 72nd minute was a double calamity for the home side, Snodgrass earning his second yellow card for a rash late challenge on Gunter. The dismissal was compounded when the referee, having initially signalled for a free-kick just outside the box, correctly pointed to the penalty spot after consulting his assistant.
Ramsey stepped forward to blast the ball out of McGregor’s reach and in off the underside of the crossbar. The tenman Scots barely had time to reorganise themselves before they found themselves 2-1 behind just two minutes later.
King had all the time and space he needed on the right to send over a cross, which Hal Robson-Kanu met with a firm header which beat the helpless McGregor from around eight yards.
Wales were also reduced to ten men in stoppage time, Ramsey shown a straight red card for pulling back James McArthur after giving the ball away to the Wigan midfielder just outside the penalty area. Maloney curled the resulting free-kick over and Scotland’s hopes of salvaging a point were gone. Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Hanley, Mulgrew; Burke (Rhodes 86), McArthur, Dorrans (Adam 64), Snodgrass; Maloney; Fletcher (Miller 5). Subs not used: Gilks, Mackay-Steven, Whittaker, Webster, Naismith, Commons, Bannan, Martin, Marshall. Wales: Myhill, Gunter, Ricketts, Ashley Williams, Davies; Collison (King 58), Ledley (Church 89); Ramsey, Bale (Williams 46), Robson-Kanu; Bellamy. Subs not used: Price, Lynch, Richards, Collins, Vaughan, Vokes, Easter, Nyatanga, Fon Williams.