GOAL HUNGRY
Naismith knows early goal against Gibraltar will help prevent any flashbacks to night Scotland were almost shamed by Liechtenstein
Naismith convinced Scots have firepower to avoid ignominy
AS THE excruciating desperation of Craig Levein’s team was granted a seventh minute of injurytime to play out, every Scotland player scuttling around the Hampden pitch was within seconds of being sentenced to a place in the national sporting hall of shame.
Steven Naismith can well recall the feeling that he was about to be a culpable part of a home draw with Liechtenstein, a team then ranked 141st in the world. It would have embarrassed the name of the Scottish team around Europe and mortified Naismith and his team-mates forever. Levein and his inadequate lot were spared a public savaging thanks to Stephen McManus heading home a Barry Robson corner and securing a 2-1 victory.
Naismith is one of five survivors likely to suit up for a Scotland team facing a similar mission this evening — that of breaking down a vastly inferior group of minnows in a home qualifier where the expectancy is a facile victory. Alan Hutton, Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown started on September 7, 2010. James Morrison and Naismith were second-half replacements for James McFadden and Kris Boyd.
The Everton forward could afford to suffer a few flashbacks as he confidently addressed the need and desire for an early, soothing, scoring solution against Gibraltar to stave off any anxieties that might infiltrate this evening’s effort.
There had been full-blown panic at play that night after Mario Frick had given Liechtenstein an improbable lead early in the second half and Kenny Miller’s equaliser only took Scotland halfway towards sparing the blushes.
As Naismith explained: ‘I know from my time with Scotland there have been games where we should have been winning five and six nil — the Faroes have been tough in the past and Liechtenstein was the example for me.
‘That was one where you think the goal might never come and it’s a terrible result. You’re thinking the chance had gone. But we got the result in the end and it was such a relief. For these kind of occasions, people might go into them thinking: “We’ve got 90 minutes, we’ve got ages”. Then, before you know it, it’s half-time. Then 10 or 15 minutes of the second half are gone. That’s when it starts getting edgy.
‘It only takes a mistake or a slip for the opponent to get in and maybe take their one chance. So you’ve got to be 100-per-cent committed and focused, have players in the right areas and the defensive cover and defensive-minded players switched on at all times — rather than just thinking about attacking. But the manager drills all that into us a lot.
‘There isn’t any room for error and he makes that clear. We’ve got an experienced bunch here who are well aware of that. Let’s hope the game is just the same as it’s been in this campaign — a good, honest performance with some good football.
‘We’ll be going out, trying to start at a good tempo and get that early first goal. It would be nice to do it the straightforward way, it’s about time Scotland had afternoons like that and that’s what the boys will be aiming for.’
Naismith has not been dogged by nightmares on the approach to this task because he believes Gordon Strachan’s Scotland is a squad boasting far greater creative cunning than the one that so unconvincingly completed a plodding double over Liechtenstein in the failed Euro 2012 campaign.
‘I think we’re more confident now as a group,’ said the 28-year-old. ‘And in terms of getting the ball out of feet and passing more sharply, overall, we’re doing that. OK, it wasn’t the best example of it against Northern Ireland.
‘But players are now encouraged to play the dangerous passes that unlock teams, rather than side by side and a bit pedestrian.
‘That’s been the difference and it’s showed in the more recent performances and results. I think the fans will be realistic and understand that, as long as we’re playing at a good tempo and knocking the ball about well, we’re confident enough now that we’ll get the goals to calm the crowd down, calm everyone down and, hopefully, make it a good and enjoyable day. But we’ll need to start at that good tempo.’
Gibraltar have conceded after 11, six, nine and 12 minutes in their four Group D games, which points to Naismith’s wish for a stress-free evening being granted. As for going on to rack up a score, Poland and Republic of Ireland set the bar by striking seven times.
On the expanses of the Hampden turf, Scotland will seek to wear down their semi-professional visitors and hammer home a fitness edge as well as taking advantage of the talent gap between the teams.
‘I think it’s got to be an aim,’ said Naismith. ‘It’s a fantastic big pitch out there and we’ve got to use that to our advantage. We play at a decent level of the Championship or Premier League, so we’re confident with the way we play and are confident on the ball.
‘The manager will be asking us to do more of the same. The longer you have it and the other team are chasing, it’s just tiring them out and you’re keeping your energy for the right moment when it comes to break them down.
‘Gibraltar’s results so far have been pretty high-scoring and, from the clips we’ve watched, the teams have enjoyed sustained pressure. When we’ve got the ball, we need to make them work really hard.’
THE prospect of a goal rush should have Scotland’s attacking players salivating at an opportunity to boost their international scoring record. What a blessing that would be for Steven Fletcher, on a streak of 22 games for club and country without a goal; or Jordan Rhodes after his 19-month international exile was ended by Strachan for this double-header.
Fletcher was denied by the excellence of Michael McGovern on Wednesday night as Scotland relied on centre-half Christophe Berra to nail a friendly victory over Northern Ireland.
‘Fletch just needs a goal,’ said Naismith. ‘The way he has to play at club level, it’s been tough for him.
‘That’s where he’s expected to hold the ball up and get other players involved. I think his new manager has helped him a bit in the way they played against West Ham United last weekend.
‘But he brings so much to the team — aerial ability, hold-up play, flicks, bringing others into the game. He makes it easier for guys like myself playing around him.
‘I think, after one goal, he would then get a few.
‘Like us all, at this level we’ve not been good enough in front of goal at times — myself, Fletch, Shaun (Maloney). It’s something you want to improve on in the future.
‘We’ve also got Jordan back in now after being out for a while and I’m sure he’ll play a part on Sunday.’
The competition for one of those middle-to-front places in the Euro 2016 bid was cranked up further when the surprise pick in the squad, Matt Ritchie, impressed Naismith.
The Bournemouth man, on his first visit to the country of his father’s birth, provided the corner-kick delivery for Berra’s 85th-minute headed winner.
‘Matt slipped in seamlessly and he’s been brilliant,’ enthused Naismith. ‘I’ve been very impressed with him. Bournemouth are a team similar to the national team in that we don’t have many flair players who are just going to skin 10 opponents and score.
‘We’re more a team. And he was saying they are similar. He maybe goes a bit unnoticed but he’s got an intelligent brain, as you could see on Wednesday, with the way he drifted off the line and picked up positions off the striker.
‘He’s not scared to have a shot, either. He’s a good addition. I thought he was one of our best players, he tried to make things happen in a game that was slow at times.
‘I think it’s great that there are maybe more than 40 players now for the manager to select from. There are so many. Every position.
‘There are three quality keepers, which is incredible. I wouldn’t like to be a goalie in this squad where the fight is so tough and there’s only one position to play for.
‘Then i n the midfield area especially we’re very strong.
‘Look at the bench. Even with the manager changing the team, there were the boys who didn’t get on like Barry Bannan.
‘That keeps the levels that bit higher, pushes you on. I think that’s where the result comes from.
‘The manager has said it depends who we’re playing and how we’re going to play that will determine if you’re in the squad. It’s not as if players missing out are thinking: “Oh, I’m never going to get in” and things like that.
‘The manager has enough knowledge and time to decide who he wants. Obviously the decisions he’s made so far have been right and that’s good for the future.’