Highlights: Scotland 1-2 SloveniaDisjointed Scotland unravelled in the second half as Slovenia came from behind to inflict back-to-back Nations League home defeats on head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.
On a night that started with the return of his three predecessors – Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish and Steve Clarke – for a presentation marking Andy Robertson’s 100th cap, the Belgian’s promised intense and energetic style failed to show.
The Slovenes – who showed a slickness which was missing in the goalless draw in Ljubljana last Saturday – capitalised on poor defending and structural confusion.
It leaves the Scots staring at pot three – and likely a harder qualification group – in the 2028 European Championship draw later this year.
Ryan Christie’s cheeky flick – after a bit of pinball following Ben Gannon-Doak’s stand-up cross – had Pocognoli’s side on course for his first home win after his debut was dampened last week by defeat against Switzerland.
But that goal failed to spark the hosts, who showed the same shortcomings that blighted the tenures of the trio of former bosses in attendance.
Danijel Sturm and Aljosa Matko took turns providing and scoring to suck the life out of a flat Hampden crowd.
First, Sturm threaded a defensive-splitting pass through for Matko to slip past Angus Gunn, before the Slovenes ripped the Scots down the right.
Sturm had the freedom of Mount Florida to romp into and Matko found him with ease to silence the home stands.
Eventually, the Scots attempted to rally – in no small part due to the introduction of debutant Hearts winger Josh McPake – and though there were a couple of shouts for penalties, they were waved away.
It means the four-game window ends on a grim note for Pocognoli, as questions about the direction his squad are taking grow.
Christie flicks Scotland in frontScotland analysis: Pocognoli needs solutions soon
After his debut Hampden defeat, Pocognoli challenged his Scotland players to put on a show one week on.
There was hope the Scots would have picked up where they left off in Ljubljana – dominating possession and suffocating Slovenia – but that wasn’t the case in sticky showing in Glasgow’s southside.
The high-press Pocognogli has spoken of was almost non-existent in a jaded opening. The pre-match energy generated from Robertson’s presentation dwindled in the stands, with the flat atmosphere reflecting the action on the pitch.
Christie’s cute finish sparked something among the fans, but the same couldn’t be said for the side, who struggled to show anything at all after the break.
Issues which plagued Clarke – who received rousing applause on his return to Hampden – of a lack of ruthlessness in attack and pitiful goalkeeping were on show.
Oli McBurnie has surpassed 1,000 minutes – 20 appearances – in a Scotland shirt without a goal. Sure, he registered his first assist – after a fashion – but appetite and workrate being his only qualities is wearing thin.
As is the ease Scotland are being played through at the minute. With 10 men against Switzerland, it could be somewhat expected, but the Slovenes are hardly world-beaters themselves. Scotland made them look like it.
Things were always going to be learned in this mammoth window. Perhaps most of all, is it is clear Scotland are in a state of flux. Flittering between old habits which got them so far, and teetering on the transition into the new, brave, promised world.
For the first time in his tenure, Pocognoli headed off to the sound of Tartan Army boos. Unless he can come up with a solution, and swiftly, for November, it will become a more familiar soundtrack for the Belgian.
