Scotland 1 Macedonia 1: Levein left in a dark place as nation rage against second setback
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Hours after Andy Murray’s elevation to the status of a Scottish sporting god, Craig Levein finds himself in a very different place. That of a man fighting for his job.
On the back of a second poor home performance in four days, the odds on the thrawn Fifer’s survival are lengthening by the minute. Publicly Levein remains defiant and bullish. In denial even.
‘We are two points behind three teams on four points, with 24 still to play for,’ stated the manager. ‘I’m very positive about where we are going.’
Take that: Kenny Miller fired back to silence his critics
MATCH FACTS
Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Webster, Berra, Dixon, Caldwell, Forrest, Maloney, Morrison (Rhodes 66), Mackie (Naismith 77), Miller (Adam 58).
Subs not used: Marshall, Hanley, Snodgrass, Cowie, Dorrans, McCormack, Foster, Phillips, Samson.
Goals: Miller 43
Booked: Adam
FYR Macedonia: Bogatinov, Georgievski, Sikov, Noveski, Popov, Ibraimi (Tasevski 89), Gligorov (Sumulikoski 70), Demiri, Trickovski (Hasani 37), Pandev, Ivanovski.
Subs: Pacovski, Mojsov, Grncarov, Ristic, Lazevski, Georgiev, Kristijian Naumovski.
Goals: Noveski 11
Booked: Ibraimi, Hasani, Gligorov, Pandev, Sumulikoski
Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia)
Att: 32,430
He may be the only one. Past Scots teams who qualified for major finals tended to win their home games. With two points from two encounters in Glasgow, the Road to Rio now looks strewn with boulders and obstacles.
Blood shot and weary following Murray’s late-night Fairytale in New York, the nation has returned to a more familiar sporting tale. That of the distinctly Grimm variety.
By virtue of friends in high places at the SFA, Levein might make it to Cardiff and Brussels next month. So close is his relationship with chief executive Stewart Regan and performance director Mark Wotte, indeed, that it would be astonishing if he left before then.
Yet there was a very mutiny brewing over Glasgow’s south side skies on Tuesday night.
For all his positive thinking – after the event rather than during it - Levein can hardly miss the growing clamour for his removal. A tactical system which has now brokered four draws, three defeats and just three wins from 10 qualification games – or 13 points from 30 - drew widespread derision. A pair of ears was all anyone required to hear it.
Back on track: Miller (second right) celebrates his first-half equaliser
There were loud, lengthy boos at the final whistle from the 32,430 crowd – the lowest attendance for a home qualifier since 2001. More telling still, however, were the grumbles of discontent when the manager replaced Scotland’s goalscorer Kenny Miller with midfielder Charlie Adam. It was a far from ridiculous substitution, but right now trust is fading fast.
‘We want a striker,’ demanded the crowd. Levein is not noted for his willingness to accept free advice, yet within minutes new golden boy Jordan Rhodes took to the field and came close once or twice. Steven Naismith also came on in a desperate, vain late bid to snatch all three points.
Who will dispute, however, that a winner would have flattered Scotland? If there was a fortunate hue to the scoreline which witnessed the players in dark blue level at half-time then it remained after 90 error-strewn minutes.
The hosts toiled and laboured their way through a match during which the National Stadium seemed perpetually in a state of simmering – sometimes verbal – dismay.
Come on: Scotland players celebrate their equaliser
Bad beginning: Nikolce Noveski opens the scoring for Macedonia
It took 43 minutes for a meaningful chance to emerge. Kenny Miller duly claimed his 17th goal for his country in a personal retort to his many critics. His display against Serbia picked over and dissected, it was a sweet moment for the 32-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps striker. If ultimately a vain one.
He slotted home from 10 yards with his left foot after James Morrison slid a precise pass through for Jamie Mackie, the ball creeping past the lunging left foot of Vanche Shikov and kindly into the path of the QPR striker.
Mackie, one of three changes to the starting line up which drew with Serbia – 6-1 winners over Wales - had every right to consider a shot. He opted instead for an unselfish square ball to a lurking Miller, who slotted the ball into the net to some relief.
Frankly, there had been little before that to suggest Scotland had it in them. In contrast, Macedonia – inspired by the peerless and immaculate Goran Pandev – had begun the game with some purpose and poise.
They took the lead in 11 minutes and were well worth their advantage.
Grin: Craig Levein seemed happy enough before kick-off
There was a suspicion of offside against scorer Nikolche Noveski as he slotted home Ivan Trichovski’s low cross, but no arguing with the quality of the lead-up play. Macedonia, in truth, might have scored more in an opening half hour when Scotland looked cloven-hoofed and industrial in the face of a footballing masterclass from the sublime Pandev.
A former Serie A and Champions League winner with Inter Milan, he was simply majestic on Tuesday. Not for nothing is he a personal favourite of Jose Mourinho.
His graceful brilliance was a source of perpetual embarrassment for the Scots. He pulled players from the home nation inside out at times, then turned back to do it all again.
Fortunately for the team in dark blue, his team-mates couldn’t always match his speed of thought.
Agim Ibrahimi, the No 19, came closest. As Pandev twisted and bamboozled his way past the flummoxed duo of Shaun Maloney and Alan Hutton he dinked a quite delightful ball through for his attacking team-mate – Ibrahimi’s shot blocked by the legs of Allan McGregor.
It should have been 2-0. Yet Miller’s goal offered Scotland a degree of hope which, frankly, they barely deserved.
Clump: Charlie Adam piles in
Utterly devoid of creativity or imagination, better things were demanded of Levein’s team in the second half. Broadly speaking, however, the match followed a similar pattern. Scotland possession aplenty followed by an abject final ball.
Before the hour point, indeed, Macedonia again created two terrific chances to score.
Raiding right back Georgievski covered 40 yards in quick time to race onto a Demeri lay off after more exemplary vision from Pandev.
Scotland survived and did so again moments later when Macedonia substitute Ferhamn Hasani smashed a thumping right foot shot flush against McGregor’s left-hand post from 20 yards.
Predictably, all of this added to the air of growling derision building a head of steam within Hampden.
Tribute: Andy Murray's exploits were celebrated
The introduction of Adam – for goalscorer Miller - brought a chorus of boos. Followed swiftly by demands for a striker.
In the aftermath of the Serbian stalemate, Levein had issued a defiant message to supporters. He would, he insisted, continue to do things his way.
As chants for Rhodes intensified, however, the manager listened.
The £8million Blackburn man replaced an out of touch Morrison to rousing roars of approval. His first touch was a downward, diving header from a James Forrest cross which fizzed inches wide of the post.
The general ebb and flow and pattern of the game remained, however. Pandev played, Scotland reacted. Invariably just a second or two too late.
Cheery: Macedonian fans were in good voice as they arrived at Hampden Park
The Napoli man’s impeccable passing in behind a static defence created another fabulous opportunity when Ivanovski raced in on goal. He looked odds on to score until McGregor spread his body to block the low shot across goal with his right leg.
In that moment, he earned his man of the match award. He might also have saved Craig Levein’s bacon.
Who beyond the man himself, however, can deny that a point against the team ranked 97th in the FIFA rankings makes the manager’s prospects look increasingly bleak? The people have spoken and the SFA will find it hard to turn a deaf ear.
Up above: A rainbow graced the sky above Hampden Park before kick-off
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Hard to blame the manager. Scottish football has been going down the gurgler since long before he arrived on the scene. The general apathy amongst the clubs is symptomatic of the general apathy amongst scottish fans. Englands not much better, when was the last time they won anything 1966 before most of the population of the UK was born, and as for Wales 6:1. If proof of the milaise in scotland is required just have a look at who is in charge of the SPL and the SFL, after all of their incompetence since March they are still their charting the way forward, well its one chart that will not help them find their wat to the new world, it probably only covers the route form Hamden to their nearest bank branch.
- Kangaroo - Yum , Australia, 13/9/2012 00:34
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