Scotland are failing to dispel emperor’s new clothes concerns after laboured victory

The Scottish Football Association’s ticket promotion drive for this match emphasised that games are always better under the lights. They might need to re-think that one.

This was another endurance test that at least had a satisfactory outcome, courtesy of John McGinn’s double. In between times a goal for North Macedonia - their first in nine games - probably triggered a national holiday back home and made things look very difficult indeed for Sebastien Pocognoli.

Scotland held onto their lead, given to them after McGinn drove into the box following strong centre-forward play from Che Adams, for the best part of three minutes.

Scotland defeated North Macedonia 2-1 at Hampden. | SNS Group

A penalty, awarded after a VAR check a good couple of minutes after goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski's trip on Ben Gannon-Doak occurred, saved Scotland’s blushes with 16 minutes left and kept their Nations League hopes just about alive.

McGinn did the necessary from the spot although Oli McBurnie, who had replaced Adams six minutes earlier, might have appreciated being given the ball in his seemingly eternal quest for an international goal. It was perhaps too important a kick to take any chances. A manager’s future prospects might have rested on it.

It was a case of third time lucky for Sebastien Pocognoli as he secured his first Hampden win on what had not seemed like a particularly auspicious date. For the first time since the notorious 0-0 draw against Uruguay that torpedoed their 1986 World Cup, Scotland were in action on a Friday the 13th. What could possibly go wrong? A lot, it seemed at times.

If anything underlined that these are very different times for Scotland it was the sight of Scott McTominay, almost a year to the day since that overhead kick against Denmark, launching himself into the air again in an effort to meet Gilmour’s cross. Although he connected well, the direction was lacking. The ball went high over the bar.

There was no goal from the halfway line this time either. Instead, we were treated to one of the worst misses ever seen at Hampden when Gilmour skied the ball from seven yards seconds after the interval.

The Hampden crowd was getting testy. Boos had greeted the half-time whistle, with the score still goalless and the hosts perhaps lucky not to have conceded.

McGinn’s opener ten minutes after half-time seemed like just the medicine. However, underlining how this was never straightforward, Macedonia equalised almost immediately. They had to score a goal sometime but it was not a good look for Scotland or McTominay, who was beaten in the air at the front post by Elmin Rastodar following a corner.

A clumsy challenge at the other end by Dimitrievski on Gannon-Doak, whose poor touch had already looked to have taken the chance away from him, gave Scotland the gratifying chance to equalise from the spot 17 minutes later.

The hosts had endured an uncertain start that was a decent indicator of what lay ahead. What seemed like teething problems might have been attributed to a defence playing together for the first time. Ryan Porteous was brought back into the starting line-up, his first start since the opening match of Euro 2024 when he was sent off.

Luke Graham, meanwhile, earned his second cap - a first start for Scotland - and was planted right in the middle of the three-man backline. After surviving a few shaky moments initially, the Stoke City defender acquitted himself superbly well.

North Macedonia’s dismal run, which included not having scored in this Nations League campaign so far, perhaps convinced Pocognoli he could make such alterations though injury had restricted his options. Poertoeus, though, hadn’t even been named in the original squad.

Defence wasn’t expected to be an issue. It was a Friday night after a long week at work. Fans wanted to be entertained, they wanted to see some tangible evidence of a new Scotland they have been promised. Pocognoli might wear a suit very well but he’s not proved himself to be his predecessor’s equal at obtaining results, although this was more like it. The fear is that this supposedly more free-flowing Scotland has made them blunter. The phrase the emperor’s new clothes could not be banished from the mind.

Not even McTominay could ignite things. He seemed ready to burst the net just a few minutes later after Lewis Ferguson’s header found the Napoli midfielder with his back to goal in the box. When he turned, it looked like there would be only one outcome. However, Dimitrievski made a tremendous save low to his left.

Yes, this was another occasion where the North Macedonian goalkeeper excelled himself, just as he did in Skopje at the start of last month.

Another save, when he plucked a deflected Adams header out from beneath his crossbar, was even better. There were mitigating factors for Scotland failing to make the breakthrough in the opening half.

It might have been worse for the home team. A cute lay-off from Darko Churlinov set up skipper Enis Bardhi, who lashed a left-footed shot into the side-netting. Most of the Hampden crowd feared the ball had gone in. The smattering of North Macedonia fans were beside themselves.

Sadly for them, happily for the vast majority, the rippling effect was due to the ball hitting the wrong side of the net. It might have been marginally offside in any case. Jeers greeted the blowing of the half-time whistle moments later, nonetheless.

Would Scotland come out with a renewed sense of purpose? It seemed so. Adams pounced on a short pass back and cut the ball back while Dimitrievski dithered.

Billy Gilmour is no one’s idea of a prolific goalscorer but even he couldn’t miss from seven yards, goal gaping. He did. Quite incredibly, the ball comfortably cleared the bar. People were referencing Chris Iwelumo, meaning it was one of the worst misses of all time. It was at the right end, certainly. McGinn showed him how to do it, moving level with Hughie Gallacher in third place on 24 goals in the all-time list of goalscorers and ensuring Andy Robertson’s record-equalling 102nd cap would also be the victorious one the skipper deserved.