THE Scotland fans who had despaired as Ukraine eased to victory in the Qatar 2022 play-off semi-final at Hampden last week must have thought that devastating defeat was about as painful as they could experience.
This humiliating Nations League loss to the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin tonight, though, was every bit as bad.
A place in the World Cup finals might not, as it had been 10 days ago, have been at stake when the Group B1 match got underway this evening.
Still, this competition offers an alternative route through to the Euro 2024 finals in Germany if qualifying does not go to plan and was therefore still of some significance.
Scotland have no chance of topping their section if they continue to perform as woefully; they were dire defensively, overrun in midfield and toothless in attack and got exactly what they deserved.
Rivals who had won just two of their previous 17 competitive outings – against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg away – and whose manager had come under intense pressure as a consequence experienced little difficulty easing to a comfortable triumph.
First-half goals from Alan Browne and Troy Parrot and a sensational second-half strike from Michael Obafemi secured a deserved victory for Stephen Kenny’s side in front of their delighted home support.
Steve Clarke’s team will attempt to regroup and bounce back against Armenia – who they beat 2-0 in Glasgow on Wednesday evening – in Yerevan on Tuesday.
A major and immediate improvement is required or Clarke, who became a national hero when he led his country through to the Euro 2020 finals last season, will start to feel a little heat himself.
Abandoning the 3-4-2-1 formation that works so well when Kieran Tierney is available and reverting to a back four could be a very good place to start.
The Scotland manager made two changes to the team which had won convincingly in midweek; John Souttar and Stuart Armstrong dropped out and Grant Hanley and Scott McTominay came in.
That meant there was no place in the starting line-up for Billy Gilmour. The Chelsea man endured a difficult time on loan at Norwich City this season and failed to perform at his usual high standard against Ukraine.
Clarke’s opposite number Kenny, who was without experienced midfield duo Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty, made five changes to the side that had lost 1-0 to Ukraine at the Aviva on Wednesday night.
Browne and James McClean came in at wing back, Jayson Molumby was drafted in to the midfield and Parrott and Obafemi were deployed up front as Jeff Hendrick, Cyrus Christie, Chiedozie Ogbene, Enda Stevens and Callum Robinson dropped out.
Kenny, the former Dunfermline manager, had ruled John Egan, the Sheffield United centre half, out of the game on Friday. But the defender started in a three man backline alongside Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins.
Browne forced a good save from Craig Gordon in just the fourth minute when he tried his luck from distance. But the visitors had soon put that early scare behind and assumed control of proceedings. They bossed possession, built play patiently from the back and created a couple of half-decent scoring chances.
Andy Robertson had an attempt blocked by Browne following good work by Anthony Ralston and John McGinn forced a save from Caoimhin Kelleher after a careless pass out of defence from Duffy.
Ireland took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute after Scott McKenna had nodded a cross out for a corner. McClean picked out Duffy at the back post, the centre half nodded it back across goal and Browne bundled it beyond Gordon from a few yards out off the inside of his thigh. It was a soft goal to concede.
McGinn should really have levelled seven minutes later after Ryan Christie had laid the ball off to him just outside the opposition area. The midfielder, though, fired a first-time shot just past the left post.
The Aston Villa man had spoken at the pre-match press conference about how badly his glaring miss in the second-half of the Ukraine game – he had headed wide with an empty net beckoning invitingly – had hurt him and how keen he was to atone for it.
But the Tartan Army favourite has been far from his best in this international window, this season in fact, and he risks losing his place in the national team unless he rediscovers his best form soon.
McGinn’s squandered opportunity allowed the home side to forge further ahead a minute later. Obafemi played an exquisite chip over the heads of the flat-footed Scotland back three and Parrot ghosted in from the left and headed into the net.
Kenny’s charges could have been three or even four ahead at half-time. Gordon did well to palm a Duffy header over his crossbar after the defender had met another McClean corner. That the former Celtic loanee was given so much space at the back post so soon after setting up the opener from that position was inexcusable.
Gordon then pushed an inswinging McClean delivery onto the inside of his right post. Christie picked up a booking from Italian referee Marco Di Bello for scything down Jason Knight in the centre circle as the midfielder burst upfield on the counter attack.
Clarke had to do something to get Scotland back into the game and he acted at half-time by removing Hendry, putting on Gilmour and moving McTominay back into defence. However, the 3-4-2-1 formation that has been questioned by so many since the Ukraine game remained in place.
Gilmour’s first major contribution was to give the ball away just outside his area just six minutes after taking to the field. Obafemi took full advantage. He rifled a swerving shot from fully 25 yards out beyond Gordon to register his first international goal.
Clarke made a triple substitution in the 59th minute when he replaced McGinn with Stuart Armstrong, Che Adams with Ross Stewart and Christie with Jacob Brown. But Shane Hogan nearly bagged a fourth just two minutes later. Hanley cleared off his line to deny him.
Stewart got a late attempt on target. But this was a desperately disappointing showing by Scotland and the large travelling support did not hide their displeasure at the final whistle. Their discontent will grow unless there is a response against Armenia on Tuesday.
