False start for Scots
Scotland's first match of the 2010 campaign was underwhelming
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Monday, 08, Sep 2008 11:00
Scotland put themselves under pressure going into Wednesday's game with Iceland after losing 1-0 in Macedonia.
The performance was poor and things do not bode well from this start to the World Cup qualifiers.
If Scotland are to have any chance of doing well at South Africa 2010 then they will have to get used to playing in temperatures like this. That is, of course, if they qualify.
Twelve years is a long time not to have played at a major finals and results like this are likely to extend that barren period to 14 years.
In a game that many would have expected to win, the Scots looked a shadow of the side that fought so bravely under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish during their respective tenures.
Baking heat may have played a part in tiredness towards the end of the game, but it was a goal inside the first five minutes that sent them on their way to defeat.
Goran Maznov seemed to con Czech referee Pavel Kralovec when he performed a move more in keeping with Swan Lake than a World Cup qualifier after being challenged by stand-in skipper Stephen McManus.
The free kick was given, though, and Goce Sedloski used it to force Craig Gordon into a good save.
The keeper tipped the ball onto the post but Ilcho Naumoski was first to react, putting the ball in the net with Gordon stranded.
It was the worst possible start to both the game and the campaign, leaving Burley still searching for a win.
A poor first half saw the Scots struggle to establish a foothold in the game, with only two real chances for Scotland.
One came from a Paul Hartley corner kick which just eluded Gary Caldwell at the far post, while James McFadden forced a good save from Petar Milosevski 35 minutes in.
Macedonia also threatened with a shot from Maznov, but Gary Caldwell managed to get back to block the effort.
The midfield seemed to remember they were playing in the second half, with Darren Fletcher, Scott Brown and Barry Robson beginning to assert themselves.
Fletcher and Brown both had opportunities, with Brown being denied by Milosevski in goal and Fletcher just failing to connect with a Gary Naysmith cross.
Hartley was substituted on 65 minutes, with Kris Commons being introduced while Barry Robson appeared to pick up a knock late on and was replaced by Shaun Maloney.
Shumilikoski came close for the home side before James McFadden seemed to be fouled in the box.
So frustrated was the Birmingham striker that he was shown a yellow card for his complaining.
It proved to be the biggest talking point of the second half, with only an effort from Maloney troubling Milosevski, who must have breathed a sigh of relief after pulling McFadden down.
The 10,000 strong crowd would have been disappointed, but none more so than the Tartan Army members who travelled all that way to see a poor performance. If anything, the luckiest were the few who were controversially turned away at the gates.
George Burley was quick to highlight the improved second-half performance after the game and didn't seem to want to dwell on the defeat. But the message he must send to his players ahead of the Iceland clash in midweek is that this performance and certainly the result are just not good enough.
I suggested last week that Scotland always seem to struggle against the smaller nations when playing away from home and so it proved in Macedonia.
Iceland, who should provide tough opposition, may be a different kettle of fish.
Cooler temperatures will help things but the players now also have just enough time to recover from the massive kick up the backside they are likely to have been given by Burley over the weekend.
Much better is needed and I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of changes.
I would like to see Burley take a more attack-minded approach, with Maloney and McFadden playing just off either Kenny Miller or Kris Boyd.
Both McFadden and Maloney are more than capable of tracking back to make a midfield five, while supporting the main striker when in possession.
Fletcher, Brown and Robson could hold the midfield between them, while the back four are all competent defenders.
I had initially said that four points should be the bare minimum that Scotland expect to get from these two games, but now that's not possible I feel that three points is an absolute must.
Any less than that on Wednesday and I believe George Burley and his charges may as well start searching for some cheap 2010 holiday deals as its unlikely they'll be going to South Africa.
Chris Malone