John McGinn's double ensured Sebastien Pocognoli avoided a fright on Friday the 13th as Scotland edged out North Macedonia at Hampden. Up against a team that had gone almost a year without scoring, trouble looked to be brewing for the new gaffer when his side allowed Enis Bardhi to cancel out McGinn's second-half opener.
The Scots had already spurned a host of big chances, including a remarkable Billy Gilmour sitter just after the interval, to leave the Tartan Army growing anxious. But McGinn ensured there was no nightmare on Aikenhead Road as he stroked home a penalty with a quarter of an hour remaining to hand Pocognoli his first home win.
Another stumbling Poc avoided - just
Four points from 12 was not quite the start Pocognoli was hoping for as he took up the reins at Hampden. Succeeding Steve Clarke, the man who ended the nation's three-decade spell in the international wilderness, was a task not far off being asked to follow up Frank Sinatra on stage. But so far Pocognoli's side have not hit many high notes.
Up against a team that had not won in 12 games and had gone eight without scoring, he would have hoped to see his side finally find their rhythm. But it was another low-key start as the 40,000-strong Hampden crowd were drowned out by the sound of the players' shouts.
Things eventually warmed up but the only noise at the break was jeers from the Tartan Army as Scotland trudged off having spurned a host of decent chances to take the lead. The second half started with the sound of gasps ringing round the stadium as Gilmour failed to score from six yards out but Pocognoli must have felt his team were finally up and running as McGinn stroked home on 53 minutes.
The sight of Bardhi firing the Macedonians' first goal since December 18 last year - the consolation effort in a 7-1 battering from Wales - was cause then for fresh panic. Thankfully for the Belgian boss, McGinn did the necessary with his late penalty but the fact is there is a lot more needed if this side is to win over Pocognoli's doubters.
His 5-4-1 system is supposed to allow Scotland to play with energy and intensity but too often they looked stuck, caught between two thoughts. Monday's trip to Switzerland will be his toughest test yet - but major improvements will be needed if Poc's team are to have any chance of claiming second spot in the Nations League, and a pot 2 seeding for the Euro qualifiers.
Robbo ready to take King Kenny's cap throne
The numbers speak for themselves - 102 caps, 81 of them as captain and three major tournaments. When added together, Andy Robertson's Scotland status easily reaches legendary levels.
It was a proud night for the skipper as the 32-year-old found himself pulling up beside Kenny Dalglish to draw level with an appearance benchmark that has stood for 40 years. Now on Monday night in St Gallen, Switzerland - all being well - the Tottenham defender will go clear all to become the new record holder on his own. It has been an incredible journey for a kid who started his career here at the National Stadium cleaning boots in the kit room while an apprentice at Queen's Park. Now he is about to find himself sitting proudly as the new cap king of Hampden.
Meatball sauce
Robertson is not the only man eyeing up Scotland records. McGinn's double means he now has 24 goals for his country - putting him level with third-placed Hughie Gallacher. The only names above him now belong to Dalglish and Denis Law, who both netted 30 during their days in dark blue. At 32, there is plenty of time for the Aston Villa ace to chase them down.
The last camp was dominated by talk over McGinn's future involvement after a fairly underwhelming World Cup and some sub-standard displays in the four Nations League openers. But this was far brighter from the Aston Villa captain. He was involved in most of Scotland's best moments during the first half, putting McTominay in a couple of times with clever passes in behind. And he was quickly on his bike to give Pocognoli's side the lead on 53 minutes, making the most of some decent work up top by Adams to finally find a way past Dimitrievski. And he was coolness personified as he tucked home his 74th minute penalty to edge Scotland to victory.
No Stole-n Thunder
Pocognoli was delighted to welcome his Serie A stars Scott McTominay and Che Adams back after both sat out his first get together last month. McTominay was looking back to his best domestically after firing five goals since his return from heart surgery. And he almost grabbed another 16 mins in as he turned in the box and fired a shot off, only denied by Valencia goalie Stole Dimitrievski. It was the first of several big stops from the keeper as he set about frustrating the hosts, including a near-post save to deny Adams.
The game was taking place five days short of the first anniversary of last year's historic win over Denmark - the win which sent us on our way to North America. McTominay tried to mark the occasion with an audacious repeat of his sensational overhead but this time saw his attempt soar over. Dimitrievski might have been his side's saviour before the break but in the end it was his foul on Ben Gannon-Doak that handed victory to Scotland. The ref needed Var's help to spot his trip on the winger but the replays showed clear contact on the Bournemouth wideman's ankle.
Ghastly Gilmour
Chris Iwelumo's stunning sitter against Norway. Billy Bremner from a yard out while facing Brazil in 1974. Gary McAllister's Wembley spot-kick sin in the Euro 96 Gilmour scrap with the Auld Enemy. All of them have gone down as the worst entrants in the Scotland hall of shameful misses.
But Gilmour now finds his name at the top - or maybe that should be the bottom - of the pile after his horrifying howler seconds into the second-half. Some brilliant foraging from Adams looked to have left the Napoli ace with the simplest of tap-ins for what would have been just his third strike for his country. But to the astonishment of the crowd, he leaned back and fired it high over the crossbar. It is a miss the wee man will not want to see again - but unfortunately he is likely to find himself watching replays of it for years to come.
