Gordon can look back and laugh at his gaffe

Published on Monday 31 May 2004 01:00

SCOTLAND newcomer Craig Gordon today recalled how his dream debut almost turned into a nightmare.

The 21-year-old Hearts keeper was handed his first cap by Berti Vogts in yesterday’s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at Easter Road but his big day almost turned sour after an early blunder.

The Scots were ahead through Darren Fletcher’s opener when the Tynecastle No.1 almost gifted the visitors an 11th-minute equaliser after he misjudged a back pass from Norwich defender Malky Mackay.

Attempting to control the ball with his weaker right foot, the keeper allowed it to roll over the top of his boot and then seemed to stumble as he tried to recover.

Thankfully for the youngster, his blushes were spared with the ball rolling wide of goal.

Gordon, however, quickly shrugged off that unnerving start to produce a competent display between the sticks as the hosts coasted to a 4-1 victory, Gary Holt, Gary Caldwell and Nigel Quashie also hitting the target in an impressive first-half performance from the home side.

Gordon was able to smile about his aberration afterwards, although he conceded it could easily have proved to be the worst possible start to his international career.

"I got a bouncing ball on my wrong side and I tried to take a touch with my right foot but didn’t get enough on it," he said.

"It skipped off the top of my foot but fortunately I took enough pace off the ball otherwise it could have been the worst first touch in international history.

"Thank God the ball wasn’t on target and went wide as that would have been a nightmare start for me. I don’t know how I would have come back from that.

"I am not making any excuses as it should have been dealt with a lot easier than it was. Luckily it didn’t cost me and these are things you can laugh about afterwards."

The Gorgie star quickly recovered from his error and helped set up the Scots’ second goal just three minutes later. He came off his line and confidently claimed Angus Eve’s corner under pressure from Marvin Andrews before launching the ball upfield to start the move which finished with Holt’s brave diving header past Clayton Ince.

Preferred to Paul Gallacher for yesterday’s clash, Gordon has now targeted a place in Vogts’ squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers - Scotland kick-off their campaign at home to Slovenia on September 8 after an August friendly against Hungary at Hampden Park.

"It was nice that I was able to contribute to the second goal - it was important to make a clean catch at the corner as I hadn’t touched the ball with my hands before that - and that helped settle me.

"I thought I had a reasonable debut but there are things I have to work on as it is a totally different game at this level. It is not every day you get to represent your country in your home city. It would have been lovely to have played at Tynecastle but at least I had a lot of family and friends at the game.

"It was exciting to get my first cap as it is not really the done thing for a keeper to get international experience at my age but this will help in my development. Obviously I am now looking for more caps. I have had a taste of it and want to keep my place in the squad for the qualifiers. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience more of this.

"But with Rab Douglas fit again at the start of next season there is going to be plenty of competition and I will have to try to ensure I keep up my club form with Hearts."