Highlights: North Macedonia 0-2 ScotlandAt a glance
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Robertson celebrates 100th cap with Nations League win
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Bowie’s fine finish opens the scoring early on
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Scotland penalty award overturned before McGinn makes it two from the spot after Miovski handball
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McKenna shown straight red for a lunge on Gjorge Dzhekov late on
Sebastien Pocognoli clinched his first win as Scotland head coach as his dominant side smothered North Macedonia on the way to a Nations League victory in Skopje.
Although it was a relatively slender scoreline earned by Kieron Bowie’s first international goal early on and a John McGinn penalty, a siege was laid upon the charmed goal occupied by Stole Dimitrievski.
A world-class reaction save prevented captain Andy Robertson marking his 100th cap with a goal in a whirlwind start for the Spurs left-back, while the keeper twice denied Ben Gannon-Doak when it looked easier to score.
Dimitrievski’s goal had been breached after just seven minutes in what looked like a mark of things to come.
Billy Gilmour slid the ball to Bowie on the edge of the area, and he did well to control it on a horrendous surface to shift it on to his left for a thumping shot back across goal into the bottom corner.
Amid a glut of efforts from Robertson, Gannon-Doak blazing over, and another Bowie close call, there was a brief interlude as a dog meandered on to the park.
A bit like Scotland, he managed to circumnavigate the North Macedonian defence before darting off.
In the second half the onslaught continued. Gannon-Doak fluffed his lines while straight through in the biggest chance, before he was sent tumbling in the box.
A penalty was given, before a prolonged video assistant review overturned it.
However, Scotland would get their chance from the spot. In a frantic scramble during which Scott McKenna headed off a post, referee Francois Letexier was sent to the monitor.
Confusion swirled about the cavernous Todor Proeski Arena, before the official pointed to the spot for a Bojan Miovski handball.
McGinn, who scored Scotland’s last goal before this game, in Boston against Haiti, sent Dimitrievski the wrong way.
For the second game in a row, though, the Scots would finish with 10 men.
This time, it was McKenna’s rash challenge on the advancing Gjorge Dzhekov which triggered it, with Pocognoli’s team hunkering down for the last 10 minutes.
Scotland analysis: Process progressing for Pocognoli
Pre-match, Pocognoli spoke several times about “the process”.
It’s fair to remark that there will be little to dwell on – good or bad – from the 3-0 reverse to Switzerland earlier in the week, such were the circumstances and the prolonged numerical disadvantage.
But this performance, control, and forward gumption was much more like the second half in Ljubljana a week ago.
You have to recognise the standard of the opposition, though. North Macedonia have now scored just two goals in 11 games and sit bottom of the section.
But this was unbridled domination on a pitch which looked as uncomfortable as the North Macedonian defence attempting to contain their relentless visitors.
One of the most impressive components is the ease shown by those new into the fold in Bowie, Stephen Welsh and Luis Binks. They were exceptional.
The fact Scotland have finished two games in a row with 10 men will be a concern to the new boss. McKenna was put under pressure, but it seemed rash.
It triggered an uncomfortable final 10 minutes or so as the visitors’ dominance was surrendered.
Regardless, the process continues as Pocognoli’s Scotland era gets up and running. Roll on Tuesday and Slovenia.
