What Sebastien Pocognoli said to Billy Gilmour after Scotland miss left him ‘alone on the pitch’

Sebastien Pocognoli has hailed the way Billy Gilmour responded to the horror of missing an open goal just moments after half-time against North Macedonia.

The midfielder experienced a moment to forget when he blazed over from the edge of the six-yard box with the goal gaping in front of him during Friday’s 2-1 Nations League win.

All’s well that ended well as Scotland kept their Nations League hopes alive thanks to John McGinn’s double. However, there was concern when North Macedonia equalised almost immediately after the midfielder’s opener on 54 minutes.

Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour reacts after missing a glorious chance against North Macedonia | PA

Gilmour played his part in the recovery before being replaced by Ryan Christie two minutes after McGinn’s winner from the penalty spot. He was given a tremendous ovation by the home crowd, who recognised his bravery in playing through the difficult moments directly after the miss.

Gilmour had to literally pick himself back up from the turf after slumping to the ground following his moment to forget. Pocognoli noted “the noise” as fans sought to process what had happened. He described Gilmour as “alone on the pitch” in this period. But the midfielder did not hide and contributed to Scotland’s win.

McGinn’s second of the night from the spot, after Ben Gannon-Doak was tripped by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, drew the midfielder level with Hughie Gallacher in third place in the all-time Scotland goalscorer standings with 24 goals.

Gilmour, who has scored twice in 51 international appearances, won’t ever feature at the top end of this list but he should now be sitting on three goals for Scotland.

Some have compared his miss to the infamous one suffered by striker Chris Iwelumo in a World Cup qualifier against Norway in 2008.

Peter van Vossen, whose name is forever associated with a horrendous open goal gaffe for Rangers against Celtic in a league fixture 30 years ago this weekend, was also referenced.

“For me, it is part of football to miss big chances,” said Pocognoli. “With his quality, he absolutely has to put it away. It was more difficult to put out!

“But I always say to the players that I am watching the reaction more. I was straight on at him after he missed. I say: ‘Go on!’ He reacted really well and I was really happy.

“That was what I said to him when he came off. I said: ‘Good reaction.’ Because there was a lot of noise after that and he was alone on the pitch. I think he did really well.”