I watched Scotland limp to victory vs North Macedonia and noted astonishing moment and rising star
Five main takeaways from Scotland’s uninspiring 2-1 win over North Macedonia at Hampden Park
Sebastian Pocognoli celebrated his first victory at Hampden as Scotland limped past North Macedonia 2-1 in uninspiring fashion last night.
John McGinn’s second half brace proved decisive to secure three valuable Nations League points and keep Scotland's promotion play-off hopes alive ahead of Monday's trip to Switzerland.
The Aston Villa midfielder opened the scoring after the break, only for Elmin Rastoder to equalise almost immediately. McGinn then kept his cool from the penalty spot after 73 minutes following a VAR review to restore Scotland's lead and seal a much-needed victory.
Lewis Anderson watched the action unfold in Mount Florida for The Scotsman and picks out his five main takeaways from the game.
Pocognoli clinches drab first Hampden success
This was far from a classic and a bit of a grind, but securing a first win at Hampden Park was an important milestone for Pocognoli as he continues to find his feet in the Scotland hotseat. Having endured a mixed start to his tenure, the Belgian will have been acutely aware of the importance of delivering a positive result in front of an expectant home support against winless opponents ranked 71st in the world, particularly with Scotland's Nations League promotion play-off ambitions hanging in the balance.
After losing his first two home fixtures in charge, the pressure was on the Belgian to deliver. While the performance was far from convincing, with Scotland squandering several opportunities before allowing a North Macedonia side who had failed to score in their previous eight matches to draw level, McGinn's spot-kick ultimately spared their blushes.
There was little comfort in the manner of the victory, but the three points were invaluable. More importantly, Pocognoli can now look to build on his first Hampden success as Scotland prepare for their decisive trip to St. Gallen, knowing that their hopes of reaching the promotion play-offs remain firmly alive.
McGinn hunts down Law and Dalglish goal record
The ever-reliable McGinn further cemented his place in Scotland's footballing history with his double, taking his international tally to 24 goals and drawing level with Hughie Gallacher in joint-third place on the country's all-time scoring charts list.
He continues to combine his trademark energy and leadership with an impressive knack for finding the net, and is now firmly in pursuit of the players above him. Only Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish remain out in front with 30 goals apiece, leaving McGinn within touching distance of some of the most illustrious names ever to wear the dark blue jersey.
At 32 and with plenty of international football potentially still to come, the prospect of climbing further up the rankings and surpassing that record is an increasingly realistic one.
Graham catches the eye on first start
Luke Graham enjoyed a hugely encouraging first start in the heart of defence, making a positive impression despite having only two international appearances to his name. This was an ideal opportunity for the Stoke City defender to show that he belongs at international level and can become a regular fixture in Pocognoli's plans.
He looked assured in a back three, showing good positional awareness and a willingness to put his body on the line when North Macedonia threatened. The 22-year-old produced an well-timed sliding challenge early in the second half to snuff out a dangerous attack and also came close to adding a goal at the other end, rising highest to meet a Lewis Ferguson corner but glancing his header narrowly wide. His aerial presence offered an additional threat.
Having made the step up from his brief cameo appearance in last month's victory in Skopje, the former Dundee man has given Pocognoli plenty to consider as he looks to establish himself in the senior set-up.
Scotland remain far from the finished article, but Graham’s performance was an encouraging step in the right direction for a player only at the beginning of his international journey.
Breath-taking Gilmour miss evokes Iwelumo memories
Less than a minute into the second half, Napoli’s Billy Gilmour blazed over with the goal gaping from eight yards out from a Che Adams cut-back, summing up Scotland's lack of clinical edge in the final third and creating an instant sense of dread inside the national stadium.
For the Tartan Army, watching that golden, unmissable chance go begging at the same end of Hampden instantly triggered flashbacks to October 11, 2008, drawing comparisons to Chris Iwelumo’s infamous blunder from three yards out in a crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier against Norway.
Both glaring misses occurred in high-stakes fixtures where Scotland were struggling to break down stubborn opposition. Just as Iwelumo's error piled immense pressure on manager George Burley, Gilmour's miss threatened to derail Pocognoli's bid for a desperately needed first home win.
While Iwelumo's miss resulted in a costly 0-0 draw that effectively ruined Scotland's qualification campaign and haunted the striker for years, Gilmour was spared lasting infamy by McGinn, turning his horror moment into a lucky escape.
Robertson savours landmark night
It was a landmark evening for captain Andy Robertson, who earned his 102nd Scotland cap to draw level with the great Kenny Dalglish as the country's most-capped player.
The Tottenham left-back, who has led his country with distinction for several years, now has the opportunity to move clear of Dalglish's long-standing record when Scotland travel to Switzerland on Monday.
It is a terrific achievement for a player who has become such an influential figure in the national side, both on and off the pitch. Having carried the captain's armband through some of Scotland's most memorable moments in recent years, Robertson now stands on the brink of claiming a place in history all of his own.
A record that has stood for four decades is within touching distance, and few would begrudge him the opportunity to make it his own.
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