Gibraltar 0-2 Scotland: Tartan Army win despite wasted chances and injury woes

Though Scotland recorded a 2-0 win against Gibraltar, it will be their abundance of wasted chances and injuries which take the headlines and cause concern among supporters, with just 11 days until their opening Euro 2024 game.

They could have been three or four goals to the good at halftime, with Grant Hanley seeing a hat-trick of chances go begging, but they eventually broke the deadlock, after sheer dominance, in the second half.

Ryan Christie opened the scoring in the 58th minute as he controlled the ball following a superb Andy Robertson cross, before blasting an effort into the back of the net.

Scotland continued to dominate but faced concern in the 76th minute as halftime substitute Liam Cooper was forced off with a worrying knee issue.

This concern did not affect the team, however, who continued to control the game with ease, before eventually doubling their lead in the 86th minute thanks to an exquisite volley from Che Adams.

It may not have been the goal-fest that Scotland fans were hoping for, but there were plenty of positives, and lessons, to take from their 2-0 win over Gibraltar.

Gibraltar boss Julio Riblas made four changes to the side who lost 1-0 away to Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League back in March.

These changes included a debut for goalkeeper Jaylan Hankins, as well as a first start for 17-year-old Man United prospect James Scanlon.

Steve Clarke also rang in the changes for his injury-depleted Scotland side with seven changes to the side who lost 1-0 at home to Northern Ireland in March.

This also included a debut, with Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie making his first start for the Tartan Army, despite two previous call-ups where he did not play.

Scotland started the game with clear attacking intent, as they looked to show a difference in class between the two sides, but Gibraltar were no pushovers as they looked settled in the game from the off.

Scotland looked to test Gibraltar’s resolve early on, and enjoyed several big chances, though none were enough to break the deadlock and give the Tartan Army an early lead.

Hanley was presented with a free header from six yards following a corner in the 10th minute, but was unable to control his effort as it blazed over the bar.

Just two minutes later, after a charging run down the edge of the penalty area, Andy Robertson delivered a perfect ball into the path of James Forrest, but the Celtic winger was unable to get his close-range shot on target.

The game settled from here, as Gibraltar began to see more of the ball and even launched several counter-attacks, though these offered little joy.

Though Gibraltar had seen more of the ball, it was Scotland who continued to dominate with mostly one-way traffic, though the Gibraltar defence continued to stand strong and shut out Clarke’s side.

Another great chance fell to Scotland in the 36th minute as Hanley directed a header, but debutant Hankins did well to keep the effort out before the ball was eventually cleared away after a follow-up effort from Ryan Porteous was denied.

Hanley saw another great chance go begging, his hat-trick of clear chances, as the ball dropped to him at point-blank range following a corner, but he failed to hit the target with what looked like it would have been a certain goal.

Just before the break, Gibraltar had their first shot on target of the game, which was comfortably caught by Zander Clark – a warning after so many Scottish missed chances.

Second half

There was just a single change at halftime, as Hanley was replaced by Cooper after what will go down as an extremely disappointing half for the Norwich City defender.

A chance fell to Cooper early in the half, as he was presented with a free header from a corner but, in alarmingly similar fashion to his predecessor Hanley in the first half, he failed to control his effort which went well over the bar.

Scotland’s profligacy would only last so long, however, and they eventually found the long overdue breakthrough in the 58th minute to take the lead.

Robertson delivered a cross across the penalty area which, after something of a scramble, was eventually controlled by Christie – who rifled a powerful effort past Hankins to open the scoring.

Despite going behind, Gibraltar’s spirit did not falter and their defensive resilience was maintained as the game progressed, despite Scotland’s increasing control in proceedings.

The trend of one-way traffic continued for the rest of the game, barring the occasional brief, and uneventful counter-attack, as Scotland never looked at risk of throwing away their narrow lead.

The scoreline became a secondary matter for the Tartan Army in the 76th minute, however, as halftime substitute Cooper was forced off with what looked like a very worrying knee injury, and Scott McKenna replaced the stricken defender.

The result was put beyond doubt as Scotland doubled their lead in the 86th minute.

John McGinn played a ball across the penalty area, in similar fashion to Robertson for the opening goal, before substitute Adams rocketed a thunderous volley across Hankins into the far corner.

The game concluded without further drama, though Scotland continued to dominate, as the Tartan Army got a win under their belt ahead of their Euro 2024 campaign.

Scotland will face on more preparation game as they welcome Finland to Hampden Park on Friday.

Despite only playing 65 minutes against Gibraltar, Robertson was a class above the rest and at his creative best throughout the game – the definition of a captain’s performance.

He cannot be blamed for the profligacy of some of his teammates, but the quality of Robertson’s chance creation, especially with crosses, was second to none on the night and was integral in Scotland recording a win.

He played a perfect ball across the penalty area for Scotland’s opening goal, as he had already done so several times previously throughout the game.