McGregor and Ferguson axed from Scotland team

Published on Wednesday 1 April 2009 09:45

RANGERS pair Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have been axed from the Scotland side for tonight's crucial World Cup qualifier against Iceland at Hampden after reports emerged that the duo indulged in a marathon boozing session in the wake of the weekend defeat in the Netherlands.

Manager George Burley dropped a hint yesterday that Craig Gordon would return in goal at the expense of McGregor after claiming that the Rangers goalkeeper had been "naive" in being blocked off while trying to prevent Holland's second goal. He also gave an indication that his trio of "outstanding" midfielders, captain Ferguson, Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown, would be broken up for the must-win clash against the Icelanders.

Such suggestions intensified when reports this morning claimed that McGregor and Ferguson were drinking in the bar at Cameron House hotel until Sunday lunchtime after returning from the Netherlands at around 4.00am that day and the SFA has now confirmed that the pair have been dropped for "a breach of discipline".

Even allowing for this, Burley is expected to ring the changes for a game he must win to keep Scotland's World Cup dream alive.

With four points from four games, victory over Iceland is required if they are to have any chance of reaching second place and the play-offs. The former Hearts boss is also ready to bring in right-back Alan Hutton for the injured Graham Alexander while the fit-again Stephen McManus could replace Christophe Berra.

"You have to assess every game – every game is different," said Burley. "This is a game where we've got to win, and I'll try and choose the best team that I feel is right for this particular game.

"We lost two bad goals over in Amsterdam, and if you do that in international football then it is difficult to come back.

"You can look at a lot of goals and say they were avoidable but these were easy goals for Holland.

"We were a bit naive and shouldn't have allowed ourselves to get blocked in," Burley continued.

"Teams block – we do it ourselves – but the second goal, especially, from the corner, was poor. The first goal was just bad marking. You don't allow yourself to be blocked."