John McGinn double saves Scotland’s blushes against North Macedonia

A special occasion for Andy Robertson saw Scotland flirt with embarrassment. Collection of his 102nd cap moves him level with Kenny Dalglish in the all-time Scottish list. Robertson will soon be a record holder. This was, however, John McGinn’s night. A double from McGinn, the second a penalty, spared Scottish blushes against a North Macedonia team who threatened to administer red faces to those in navy blue.

This proved an almighty struggle for Scotland. Questions – and plenty of them – surround whether or not Sébastien Pocognoli can build on the excellent work of his predecessor Steve Clarke. For now, Scotland are a tough watch. Pocognoli looks tactically inflexible and this is not the new dawn many predicted.

“At times it wasn’t pretty,” admitted McGinn. The 32-year-old compared this Scotland process to a club team starting a new season. The rationale is fair enough, were this a remotely forgiving environment.

It was Robertson who led the dressing room inquest in the immediate aftermath of last month’s defeat to Slovenia. It is not in the Tottenham full-back’s make-up to personalise scenarios but shortcomings in the last international window, Pocognoli’s first as the Scotland manager, added to the sense that the bigger picture was important here. North Macedonia looked favourable visitors, having not scored a goal in eight outings.

Pocognoli could call upon Kieran Tierney, Scott McTominay and Ché Adams for the first time and deployed all three from the outset. It already appears the Belgian coach will not deviate from a back three. Ben Gannon-Doak took his place at right wing-back, as is feasible against such weak opposition. Scotland’s approach will inevitably change for Monday’s meeting with Switzerland.

Scotland had been ponderous until McTominay came within an excellent Stole Dimitrievski save of properly announcing his international return. The midfielder swivelled and struck, with Dimitrievski equal to the Napoli man’s effort.

Robertson was denied the opportunity to mark his special night with a goal by an errant whistle. The referee hauled play back for a Scotland free kick – McTominay had been upended – when the playing of advantage would have seen Robertson collect a Billy Gilmour pass in a scoring position. The Hampden crowd mumped and moaned, which rather summed up recent attitudes around this Scotland team. It feels as if the public are not yet fully engaged with Pocognoli’s project. Adams sought to lift the mood, the striker stooping for a header that took a deflection before Dimitrievski batted away.

In backing up their statistical position, North Macedonia were providing nothing by way of attacking threat. Their enjoyment came from frustrating the Scots. McTominay, who has previous for acrobatic excellence in this arena, tried a 34th minute bicycle kick that flew over the crossbar and Scotland’s most lively player tried again with a low shot which Dimitrievski blocked with his midriff. This lack of cutting edge was a Scottish concern long before Pocognoli entered the dugout. The boos which met the half-time whistle, seconds after North Macedonia had created their first chance of the evening, depicted a supporter base who remained unconvinced.

Less than a minute of the second half had been played when Gilmour produced one of the worst misses ever witnessed at this famous old venue. Calamity in the North Macedonia defence allowed Adams to steal in. The Torino striker laid the ball back to Gilmour six yards out and, with an open goal, he blazed his shot wildly over the bar. It was a genuine, utter howler.

Route one broke the deadlock for Scotland. Ryan Porteous’s looping header from the halfway line caused panic in the North Macedonia defence. Adams capitalised, his pass to the advancing McGinn setting up the Aston Villa midfielder’s 23rd goal for his country. Relief was as obvious as celebration.

Although a North Macedonia response was not in the script, the equaliser epitomised Scottish slackness. A near post run from Elmin Rastoder saw him meet a menacing Enis Bardhi corner from the left. Angus Gunn in the home goal was helpless as Rastoder flicked home.

North Macedonia clearly now sensed Scottish vulnerability. While Pocognoli’s men continued to dominate the ball, North Macedonia’s counterattacking threat had increased. Officialdom, and sharp footwork from Gannon-Doak, was soon to come to Scotland’s rescue.

Gannon-Doak was instantly convinced of the foul by Dimitrievski after the Bournemouth man tried to skip past the goalkeeper. It took the VAR to inform the referee that the incident was worthy of further inspection. Intriguingly it was not Oli McBurnie – still awaiting his maiden Scotland goal and on in place of Adams – who took the spot kick. Up stepped McGinn, who made no mistake. While Gannon-Doak is due credit for winning the penalty, this appearance once more raised serious questions about his decision making.

That of the Scottish FA in hiring Pocognoli would be open to question had North Macedonia delivered a shock. That they did not do so spared Scotland ignominy. “It was not always perfect,” said Pocognoli. You aren’t kidding, Sébastien.