Scotland got out of jail with a late goal to beat Liechtenstein 2-1 at Hampden on Tuesday but Craig Levein said he was just happy to win the game. The national team were just seconds away from one of the most embarrassing results in their history but Levein says that is irrelevant now that his team top their Euro 2012 qualifying group.
Stephen McManus headed in a 97th minute winner to save Scotland’s blushes after Kenny miller’s goal on the hour had cancelled out Mario Frick’s stunning goal for the minnows. Despite the winner, Scotland’s performance was poor throughout but the manager said the result was all that mattered.
"I'm a very happy man,” he said. “The facts and the stats will show that we are top of the group.
"We can play much better. I can understand the criticism that will be levelled at us but I would like to give credit to Liechtenstein - they made it difficult for us. People want to talk about what we did do or didn't do but that is irrelevant. It's the result that matters and our result on Friday night in Lithuania looks better.
"The good thing for me is that the players didn't give up. They kept going and showed grit and determination."
McManus’ late, late show may have prevented the match from joining a list of embarrassing results for Scotland but Levein was only concerned about the effect it had on the group table.
"It might be the most valuable goal in the campaign," the manager claimed. "Football is a funny game. One goal can make a difference.
"There is a big difference between two and four points.
"The supporters could have got on our backs but they stuck with us right until the end. That goal sends them home with their team top of the group and a lot of people would not have thought that was possible before the game."
Liechtenstein manager Hans-Peter Zaugg said after the final whistle that, while he felt the result was fair, referee Viktor Shvetsov had added too much injury time. Understandably, Levein said that the match official had got it right.
"I think the referee had every right to add the extra time,” he said.
"Even in injury time, there were substitutions and time-wasting."
