Off colour: James McFadden trudges off after failing to inspire Scotland in a dreary 0-0 draw in Lithuania. Pic: ©SNS Group
Scotland put in an industrious shift and dominated possession against an eager Lithuanian side but a combination of sloppy midfield play and an inability to create goal scoring chances ensured a goalless start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Half chances from Barry Robson and Kenny Miller in either half were all the travelling side could muster, with home goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas equal to both efforts as the Scots struggled to carve out shots at goal.
Boss Craig Levein took the reasoned decision to omit James McFadden from his starting XI, cramming his midfield with five hard-working players who did well to break up their opponents’ play. But the same players struggled to retain possession, often losing the ball in the middle of the park and frustrating the travelling support.
Any desire to play flowing football wasn’t helped by persistent fouling from the home side, with referee Cuneyt Cakir getting most decisions correct. The Turkish official showed four yellow cards, including one 15 minutes into the game to Tadas Kijanskas for persistent fouling.
Despite the roughhouse tactics, Scotland often found space down the flanks through Robson, Alan Hutton and Steven Naismith. But the trio couldn’t deliver any meaningful balls into the area or to the feet of lone striker Miller, who cut an isolated figure as his team’s foremost line of attack.
Early endeavours from Miller and Robson, mainly from set pieces, offered encouragement but it was the hosts who nearly took the lead after 18 minutes in controversial circumstances. Veteran defender David Weir looked to have been fouled 35 yards from goal but Cakir waved play on, allowing former Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas room to break down the inside left channel.
In acres of space in front of him but with despairing Scotland defenders breathing down his neck, the Lithuanian opened fire at goal from the edge of the area. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who had been a spectator up until that point, was called upon to get a strong hand to the strike, beating the effort away.
Naismith then had a shout for a penalty turned down with 10 minutes left in the half, after Robson’s dipping free-kick was palmed away by Karcemarskas. The Rangers forward looked to have been upended as he received a return ball from the left but the referee adjudged the defender had successfully played the ball.
Stephen McManus then saw a rare foray forward pay off when he found himself in space at the left post. But the Middlesbrough defender’s promising volley on his right foot didn’t have the necessary curve to sneak inside the back post.
Miller then had Scotland’s best chance of the second half just four minutes in. Robson pulled clear on the right and sent a hanging cross over for the Rangers striker. But there was not enough power on the delivery for Miller to simply turn the ball into the net, instead having to crane his neck to create momentum and instead directing the ball straight at the home keeper.
Lithuania looked unruffled by Scotland’s desire to press play into their half, sitting in calmly and denying the midfielders room to move the ball around. But the cause of the visiting team wasn’t helped by a frustrating inability to find each other with their passes and try to create space in behind.
There was also ineptitude from certain players when it came to moving into gaps to take a pass from a harassed team-mate, causing numerous moves to break down.
Requiring a spark, and with Lithuania happy to be pinned back within their own half and close down the play a safe distance from their own goal, Levein sent on McFadden with just over 20 minutes to play.
The talisman immediately raised hopes of some late chances being created but he failed to sufficiently inspire his team-mates, who could find nothing in reserve to dig out the goal to get Scotland’s Euro 2012 campaign off to a winning start.
