Scotland edged closer to the World Cup with this result. It is just that next summer’s festival of football felt so far away as the Scots limped and laboured to victory over Belarus.
A dismal showing has left Steve Clarke with far more questions than answers beforethe two closing fixtures that will determine Scotland’s Group C fate. More of this will not do; as the Hampden Park crowd pointed out with increasing ferocity during the second half. Scott McTominay eased nerves with a late goal; the Napoli man’s lack of celebration said it all.
Belarus even claimed the final act as Hleb Kuchko slotted underneath Angus Gunn. Scotland will struggle and badly at a World Cup on this grim evidence.
It was almost worse – far worse – for the hosts. Evgeni Malashevich had the ball in the net for what would have been a 63rd minute Belarus equaliser. After being afforded a second view, the match referee determined McTominay had been fouled as Belarus snatched midfield possession.
The video assistant referee had already determined Che Adams handled the ball when controlling it, cancelling out the same offence by Yegor Parkhomenko. Scotland were therefore denied a penalty kick. It was, however, embarrassing that Clarke’s men were clinging to officialdom in this manner. They were facing international cannon fodder.
