Mcleish looks for the positives after Scotland’s 3-1 defeat to Portugal
Scotland 1, Portugal 3: Hampden is half-empty as Mcleish’s men suffer another dispiriting defeat
Alex Mcleish’s second spell in charge of Scotland was denied some muchneeded succour yesterday evening at a becalmed, or should that be over half-empty, Hampden Park.
But this display against the reigning, albeit well understrength, European champions, was some way removed from the excruciating experience against Israel in Haifa last Thursday night. At least here there was little jeering at the end.
Another loss might intensify the bloodlust of those who are intent on chasing the manager out of the door. Mcleish’s record is now six defeats in eight outings. But a well-worked goal in time added on from Steven Naismith on his 49th Scotland appearance served to quell the fury of all bar the most uptight Tartan Army member.
Two second half-goals from Portugal on top of Helder Costa’s 43rd minute opener had threatened to create another very uncomfortable situation for the manager. Naismith’s consolation and the realisation there are more meaningful battles looming on the horizon brought perspective.
After the intense, suffocating scrutiny of the end of last week, when Scotland fell to one of their worst defeats of recent times, this deserves to be treated with far less hysteria. Win or lose last night, it’s what happens in a few weeks’ time, when Scotland’s Nations League campaign concludes against Albania and Israel, that will define Mcleish’s first year back in the position.
That said, shipping another three goals at home, friendly or not, against the European champions or otherwise, is a dispiriting experience. After six games unbeaten towards the end of Gordon Strachan’s reign, Scotland have now lost seven times in their last nine outings. They have scored just five times, including two penalties. Oli Mcburnie, who started up front last night, does not look the answer in this department.
Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic meant Mcleish had little reason to stick with his preferred three-at-theback formation and so opted for a back four. Scotland seemed to benefit from the more sturdy arrangement, with conventional right and left-backs, for most of the first half. In saying this, the goal they conceded a couple of minutes from half-time did encourage the cry: One Of Our Fullbacks Is Missing!
Its farcical nature was enhanced by the poor attempt from Mcburnie to control a long ball forward in the lead-up. In keeping with the sense of haplessness that started with John Souttar’s red card and continued with Tierney’s own goal in Israel, Scotland again managed to shoot themselves in the foot. The ball ricocheted off one of the toddlers’ shin guards Mcburnie insists on wearing because he dislikes clunky adult-sized ones and Portugal pounced on the loose ball.
Kevin Rodrigues had acres of space in which to drive as Bruma bore down on Jack Hendry. The Celtic defender, who tends to attract calamity when with his club, was blameless on this occasion. He pointed towards his right flank in the hope someone was matching Rodrigues’ run. No-one was. Stephen O’donnell, left, will cop the flak for this dereliction of duty. He did later cut out a cross ball intended for Bruma at the start of the second half to prevent what very possibly might have been another goal but he was found wanting on several other occasions too, including Portugal’s other two goals. Rodrigues still had plenty to do in the earlier instance. He received Bruma’s lay-off and before sliding a dangerous cross into the goalmouth. Helder Costa was first to react ahead of Andy Robertson to divert the ball into the net with Craig Gordon reaching back behind in a desperate attempt to retrieve the situation. It was deflating for Scotland to lose such a goal so close to half-time. They were first to threaten even if it was a Portugal player, Porto’s Sergio Oliveira, who actually forced Beto into a fine save after inadvertently heading James Forrest’s cross towards goal.
Portugal began creating their own opportunities. Hendry’s header fell into Bruma’s path but the RB Leipzig player blasted wide. Forrest, such a controversial absentee against Israel, showed his worth when getting to
“Stephen O’donnell will cop the flak for this dereliction of duty and was found wanting on several other occasions too, including Portugal’s other two goals”
the bye-line and cutting back a cross that a stooping Naismith sent looping just wide.
Costa’s goal stung Scotland, though the hosts should have equalised shortly after half-time when Scott Mckenna’s powerful diving header from John Mcginn’s cross flew just past the post. There was even more reason to lament this when Scotland fell two goals behind after 73 minutes.
Again, it wasn’t one for O’donnell to include on any show-reel as Eder out-jumped the right-back to head substitute Renato Sanches’ free-kick back across Gordon into the opposite corner. Scotland’s frustration was increased by the reason for the setpiece – an obstruction call against Mckenna that looked very soft.
Still, scotland have to learn to defend such situations better. O’donnell, to be fair to him, was left trying to cover three Portugal players at the far post.
Portugal got their third through a fine finish from Bruma but the skilful No 7 had been aided by the amount of space he had been afforded in Scotland’s right-back area, something which Bruno Fernandes took advantage of with a fine pass after Hendry had been caught in possession in midfield. Bruma teased substitute Graeme Shinnie before letting fly into the top corner.
Mcleish’s miserable few days ended on something approaching a positive note when Scotland managed to score when the ball broke kindly after Shinnie’s run forward. It allowed fellow substitute Gary Mackay-steven the chance to produce a late moment of finesse with a neat back-heel into Naismith’s path. The Hearts striker tucked away his ninth Scotland goal. But it’s what happens in the northern Albanian city of Shkoder next month, when Naismith is set to win his 50th cap, that really matters.
SCOTLAND: Gordon, O’donnell, Hendry, Mckenna, Robertson, Callum Mcgregor, Armstrong (Mcdonald 77), Mcginn (Shinnie 67), Forrest, Naismith, Mcburnie (Mackay-steven 76). Subs not used: Allan Mcgregor, Russell, Devlin, Christie, Mclaughlin. PORTUGAL: Beto (Claudio Ramos 86), Cedric, Luis Neto, Dias (Pedro Mendes 56), Rodrigues, Danilo Pereira (William Carvalho 90), Sergio Oliveira (Sanches 56), Bruno Fernandes (Fernandes 68), Bruma (Rafa Silva 90), Eder, Helder Costa. Subs not used: Joao Cancelo, Andre Silva, Neves, Mario Rui, Pizzi.