HIGHLIGHTS: Scotland 2-1 North Macedonia
John McGinn’s second-half double gave Sebastien Pocognoli his first home win as Scotland boss, although the narrow margin of victory over Nations League bottom-dwellers North Macedonia still leaves the new head coach without a statement win.
After a dominant – if uninspired – first-half display, Aston Villa captain McGinn eventually stroked the Scots into the lead just after half-time as he was put one-on-one with the keeper.
But any joy, or relief, was short-lived as visiting striker Elmin Rastoder peeled off his man to glance in a front-post header from a corner and level the score.
The mood inside Hampden threatened to sour, especially when the foul on Ben Gannon-Doak by North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski initially went unpunished.
However, referee Michal Ocenas was called to the VAR monitor and, after a lengthy chat with both captains, he pointed to the spot, allowing McGinn to put Scotland back in front.
The most relieved man in the ground was probably Billy Gilmour who, with the game still goalless, ballooned the ball over the bar when faced with an open goal.
Pocognoli now has two wins from his first five games – both against North Macedonia – but nothing less than a comprehensive win would have won over some fans. This was certainly not that.
The biggest concern of the night was the draw between Slovakia and Switzerland, which makes Scotland’s task of finishing second in the Nations League – and therefore a potentially easier draw for Euros qualification – much harder.
Scotland analysis: Nervy win won’t win hearts and minds for Pocognoli
Hampden felt flat at full-time. Nervous energy, and even a little apathy, had crept in as Scotland made hard work of defeating a team who hadn’t scored for a year.
This is a game Scotland should have won comfortably. Yet it still seems that, after five games, players are still getting to grips with Pocognoli’s ideas.
That is despite the Scots dominating almost every attacking metric in the stats and controlling large swathes of the game.
But in international football, little lapses can cost you big time and that happened again as the porous Scots switched off at a set-piece and allowed North Macedonia right back into the game.
There were positives. Luke Graham – the 21-year-old anchoring the defence in his first start – looked assured, and there was the return of the effervescent Scott McTominay. His combination play with Che Adams has perhaps put the Torino man in front of his rivals for the starting striker spot.
But question marks remain about the system.
For one, Ben Gannon-Doak’s position continues to cause consternation among the fanbase. The 21-year-old is clearly Scotland’s biggest threat when it comes to taking full-backs on. He attempted four dribbles, but was only successful with one, losing possession 17 times.
That is not to say he had a bad game – he won the penalty that clinched victory – but his early positional confusion summed up the Scots’ hesitant display.
When he finally got to grips with taking on his man, Scotland looked more threatening. But it took a long time to utilise his strengths and defensively, it asked a lot of the returning Ryan Porteous to cover both full-back and centre-back.
Perhaps that same patience that Scotland players showed, to take control, must be shown by supporters as we all get to grips with the Pocognoli era.
