Scotland's match in Ljubljana ended 0-0, but the result masked a tale of two halves, with Sebastien Pocognoli's tactical adjustments in the second period offering the Tartan Army reason for cautious optimism.
After an alarmingly poor first half, the manager changed his team's shape from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3. While subtle at face value, the tweak provided more control in midfield and more balance and fluidity in the final third, addressing the issue of attacks breaking down before reaching Scotland's more potent threats.
McGinn Unleashed in Forward Role
The biggest beneficiary of the change was John McGinn. Barely involved in the opening 45 minutes, he was a man possessed after being unleashed as the third prong of the forward line alongside Oli McBurnie and Robbie Ure, driving Scotland up the park time and time again.
McGinn won more fouls than any other player on the pitch with six, a statistic that reflects the problems he caused the Slovenia defence. The other midfield players profited from the change too. In the first half, Lewis Ferguson and Scott McKenna were tied for the most passes by a Scotland player with 49 each. After the break, Billy Gilmour saw far more of the ball, his 40 passes bettered only by Ferguson. The pair accounted for 33 per cent of Scotland's possession in the second 45, compared to 27 per cent before the break.
Shape Shift Brings Control
Those numbers are clear evidence of Scotland gaining control of the midfield and playing their football higher up the pitch. The two-player pivot in midfield also addressed problems caused by the expansive defensive shape Pocognoli deployed. While the basic formation was familiar from the Steve Clarke era, this was much more three at the back than five, with Stephen Welsh on the left and Jack Hendry on the right operating as full-backs in possession, pushing Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson forward to overload Slovenia.
Sacrificing a body at the back was brave, but the hosts very nearly took advantage on multiple occasions in the first half. Dropping Gilmour back meant Ferguson was no longer asked to shield that space on his own, resulting in a much more balanced and controlled overall performance.
Ure Replaced, Bowie Impresses
Ure looked Scotland's most promising attacker in the first half, but the change of shape, which required him to lead the line on his own, did not seem to suit him. It was no huge surprise to see him replaced by Kieron Bowie midway through the second half. Bowie went on to have a higher expected goals (xG) than any other Scotland player, with 1.01, despite playing just 23 minutes. He had two clear chances and should have buried both, but his introduction was a green flag for the team, proof that Scotland were creating chances more effectively as the game wore on.
The match also provided an answer to how Ben Gannon Doak fits into Pocognoli's preferred three-at-the-back shape. With 12 minutes remaining, he was thrown on for Aaron Hickey in the right wing-back role. Scotland's wing-backs had been deployed so far up the pitch they operated as outright wingers, and that was amplified in the later stages as they pressed for a winner. Gannon-Doak immediately got to work, hitting the byline and floating a cross towards Oli McBurnie at the back post that the big man should have done better with.
The dramatic change in performance levels was testament to a manager thinking on his feet and making proactive changes without having to rip up his team sheet. It is not quite flowing yet, but Pocognoli's Scotland look adaptable and tactically flexible—and that is not a bad place to start.
