A worse opening twenty minutes you will struggle to see again. From a Scottish point of view, watching your team sit back against Wales was painful. Granted they had to be wary of Bale, but 11 men behind the ball wrecked of desperation and displayed a lack of faith in their own ability.
Things got off to a torrid start with Steven Fletcher coming off injured within two minutes. Enter Kenny Miller, in his day a fine striker, but in the dark blue of Scotland he is a player who can’t find the back of the net. But, credit where credit is due he played well, and tried, he always gives 100%.
Somehow I’ve managed to get this far without mentioning the villain of the piece, Robert Snodgrass. After talking his way into the book in the first half, he then threw in a wreck less and needless challenge mid way through the second half. Red card, penalty, goal. Needless from Scotland best attacking outlet on the night.
Then the four minute implosion continued, 2-1 down. A game that Scotland took so long to grow into, gone. All in four minutes. So where to now?
Scotland are now a project that get ever harder to improve with every passing game. The main issue is the mentality. The lack of belief displayed from individual players in their own ability is worrying. The dreaded turn back to goal and pass tactic reared its ugly head again and could have easily cost one or two goals, with loose pass’ going to men is Welsh shirts.
With a game away to Serbia coming up on Tuesday, Scotland are without Fletcher, Snodgrass and perhaps Miller who looked to have a ham string problem near the end.
I’d like to think there would be a reaction which involved some attacking flair. However, I fear it will be more of the same.
Blair Ferguson @BlairFerguson4