Scotland 1-1 Macedonia: Under-par Scots unable to produce the home win

Jamie Mackie is dejected as Macedonia celebrate Noveski's opening goal.© SNS Group

Scotland were left still searching for their first win after being held to a 1-1 draw with Macedonia in tonight's World Cup qualifier at Hampden.

There had been pressure on Craig Levein's men to deliver the win following the disappointment of Saturday's goalless stalemate against Serbia in their Group A opener.

Kenny Miller cancelled out Nikolce Noveski's opener just before the interval but the Scots could not find the winner, leaving them with just two points from two home games in a campaign which has so far failed to live up to expectations.

Scotland manager Craig Levein made three changes from the side who were held to a goalless draw against Serbia for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia at Hampden.

Jamie Mackie and James Forrest, who both came off the bench on Saturday, were drafted into the starting line-up along with Shaun Maloney.

Charlie Adam, Steven Naismith and Robert Snodgrass were the players who dropped out of the side following the stalemate at the weekend.

Adam was an injury doubt following the match against Serbia, although goalkeeper Allan McGregor was able to retain his place between the sticks for tonight's clash despite struggling with a recurrence of a groin problem.

Macedonia took the lead after just 11 minutes in a move which began with a short corner before Georgievski was again the provider, this time for Nikolce Noveski.

Despite being in an offside position when the ball was played, the flag stayed down and Noveski stabbed home past McGregor from close range.

Boosted by the early opener, Macedonia went searching for a second goal and Agim Ibraimi drove just wide of target from distance.

At the other end, a Maloney corner found the head of Andy Webster in front of goal but the defender nodded wide of target.

Maloney was then fouled just outside the box by Muhamed Demiri but his subsequent free-kick was comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov.

Scotland hauled themselves level two minutes before the break when Mackie delivered an inviting ball across the face of goal and Miller fired home into the gaping net from close range.

Macedonia looked dangerous after the re-start and Christophe Berra had to react quickly to block a Georgievski effort, before Ferhan Hasani rattled the post with a powerful curving shot.

Levein made his first change with just under an hour on the clock and Miller was withdrawn for Adam to boos from the crowd, who perhaps wanted to see the introduction of Jordan Rhodes instead.

Mackie took over from Miller as the lone forward but chants of 'We want a striker' rang around the stadium as Scotland searched for the goal that would set them on their way to a win.

Rhodes was thrown into the action for James Morrison after 66 minutes and immediately saw his diving header fall agonisingly wide of the post from an Adam cross.

Macedonia provided a timely reminder of the threat they still posed when Ivanovski found himself through on goal but McGregor was up to the task with a superb save.

There was another opportunity for Rhodes but the Blackburn striker was unable to connect properly at the back post after throwing himself at a Forrest cross.

Naismith replaced Mackie as the Scots made a final push for the three points but it was McGregor who was called into action again to smother from Goran Pandev late on.

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