SCOTLAND’S World Cup qualifying hopes were given a late and much-needed shot in the arm when substitute Chris Martin bagged an 88th-minute winner against Slovenia at Hampden last night.
Home defender Russell Martin had the ball in the net early in the first half only to be punished for an infringement, before striker Leigh Griffiths twice hit the woodwork.
Time seemed to be running out for Gordon Strachan’s side but, with two minutes remaining Martin, who had been booed by the Scotland fans when he came on for James Morrison five minutes earlier, took an Armstrong pass and fired a low drive past goalkeeper Jan Oblak and in at the far post.
Manager Gordon Strachan handed Stuart Armstrong his Scotland debut and the Celtic midfielder was one of six Parkhead players in a side which had left-back Kieran Tierney at right-back for the first time .
Scott Brown regained the captaincy as Darren Fletcher dropped to the bench, and Leigh Griffiths was asked to lead the line. Hampden had been quiet in the build-up, but those Tartan Army members who did turn up got behind their team and were rewarded by a bright start by the Scots.
Robert Snodgrass’s corner from the right just after a minute was met by the boot of defender Martin eight yards out, but Oblak parried to safety. Six minutes later, Martin headed the next Snodgrass corner into the net, but Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers ruled he had pushed marker Miral Samardzic before doing so, ending Scottish celebrations.
Slovenia were showing little as an attacking force, but in the 19th minute Roman Bezjak was sent down the left by Jasmin Kurtic and he blasted his shot from a tight angle straight at Craig Gordon.
The home fans jeered when Slovenia skipper Bostjan Cesar was booked in the 22nd minute for time wasting at a free-kick.
Six minutes later they almost cheered when a rising drive from Morrison from the edge of the box missed the target by inches.
The opener which should have come in the 34th minute when Griffiths volleyed a Snodgrass cross off the crossbar from four yards out.
Minutes later, the forward smacked the post with a low right-footed drive from Armstrong’s cutback, before a header from Morrison was cleared off the line by Slovenia attacker Valter Birsa. It had been an encouraging, if frustrating, first 45 minutes for the Scots.
Griffiths, who had picked up a lower back injury when challenging Oblak in the first half, was replaced by Steven Naismith four minutes after the restart. Hampden fell quiet again as the tempo dipped.
The home side tried to step up the pace but Slovenia, who were all work rate and little flair, would not allow Strachan’s men to build any rhythm.
Belief appeared to slip as the second half entered its final stages. Ikechi Anya came on for Snodgrass in the 74th minute and with his first touch he produced a tame finish from 12 yards after being set up by James Forrest, which allowed Oblak to smother easily. It was another good opportunity missed, but with two minutes left Martin struck.
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