Another late winner for Scotland has kept their World Cup dream alive and now we have our fate in our own hands.

The Tartan Army support at Hampden roared the team home and in truth the Scots fully deserved the result as they bossed much of the game.

Slovakia made their own job difficult with Robert Mak seeing a second yellow followed by a red for a late foul and then a blatant dive on the twenty-third minute.

Many of us in Scotland would have thought it wasn’t our night as Slovak keeper Martin Dubravka made great save after great save. We also had a couple of chances come back off the woodwork. We have seen this too many times before and not received the result we deserved.

Scotland’s tempo would then drop as did our defensive line but then we’d go again. The high pressing in much of the game was very impressive.

We have a much maligned defence but this was a third clean sheet in a row and Christophe Berra and Charlie Mulgrew seem to have a good understanding with each other. Long may that continue.

Players like Barry Bannan, Andrew Robertson and Matt Phillips kept running and gave their all. That’s what we need in this crucial games.

Leigh Griffiths is fast becoming an international class striker. He held the ball up well, pressed the opposition defenders and would run into the channels with good effect. Unlucky when he saw his free kick come back off the bar!

The forward was determined when on the ball and that led to our goal as he prodded a pass forward into the path of substitute Ikechi Anya who saw his cross find its way past the Slovak keeper due to an intervening touch from Martin Skrtel.

Hampden screamed, rejoiced and danced as our men in pink allowed us to dream once again. The team then held on and relief reigned as the full time whistle rang out.

I have criticised Scotland boss Gordon Strachan a few times in this campaign, and rightly so in my opinion, but fair play to him for his selection, tactics and the subs he made tonight.

The players worked their socks off and played till the very end! The lads certainly played for their manager as well as their nation and we appreciate that.

Subs Anya and Chris Martin both did extremely well for the goal. Martin also offered a nice physical presence in the second half which the Slovakian side struggled to deal with.

Now we need to go to Slovenia and grab all three points on offer there. Do that and we can look forward to a play-off spot. Maybe then we can forget about the last eighteen years of pain and look forward to going to another World Cup! Mind those days?

Please Scotland try and score early, I am not sure my heart can take another late winner but I’ll accept that rather than slipping up at the final hurdle yet again.

Let’s go again SCOTLAND!!! Let’s complete the job! 

Posted on October 5th, 2017 by scott
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