Scotland 2-1 Iceland

Apr 2 2009 James Traynor

MAKE mine a treble, Scotland manager George Burley demanded of his players and they obliged.

There was no strong drink in sight but Burley and every Scotland fan left Hampden grinning like Saturday night drunks.

Burley's treble was three valuable and badly-needed World Cup points delivered after a gutsy performance from a team rocking after a weekend fall-out.

Captain Barry Ferguson and keeper Allan McGregor were in the bad books after staying up at the bar in the squad's Loch Lomond HQ. Confusion then reigned.

First Burley sent the pair home then allowed them to return. Then he said they wouldn't take any part in last night's match.

But both were on the bench, although they probably regretted it.

When the subs were announced before kick-off McGregor was booed but without much heart. However, when Ferguson's name was read out the booing intensified.

It was embarrassing but the fans were entitled to register their diisgust at his behaviour.

However, the Scots survived the trauma and dug out a performance good enough to scrape a win against Iceland, who put them under so much pressure in the final 10 minutes, I'm sure an awful lot of people watching probably did turn to drink.

But thanks to goals by Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher, the points were marked up against Scotland's name in Group 9 and we were back in second place.

The World Cup dream is still alive. South Africa might not be beyond us. All we have to do now is beat Norway, Macedonia and Holland and we could be in the play-offs for the finals.

We can do it. We must, and no, I haven't been drinking. Just giddy with the mounting excitement.

Scotland were into their stride straight away with McCormack winning a corner on the left although his delivery was dealt with comfortably. Still, the Scots had made it clear they wanted to play in their opponents' half.

Burley's side won a second corner minutes later and although this one was also cleared Iceland knew they were under pressure as Scotland insisted on maintaining a fast pace.

That, of course, suited Alan Hutton who bombed forward on the right and barged into the box where he was met by Aron Gunnarsson. The Spurs player went down and appealed for the penalty but his claims were dismissed.

Then James Morrison zipped inside from the right and stabbed the ball through to Fletcher but his shot was deflected by Kristjan Sigurdsson. Iceland took heart and won a corner at the other end when Naysmith had to head clear from Palmi Palmason. Craig Gordon got his first touch, soaring to grab the delivery.

Morrison left his marker's legs in a knot on the right flank but the West Brom player's cross was an easy catch for Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson. The Scots were always trying to find ways through although Darren Fletcher didn't get far as he tried to get away from Helgi Danielsson.

The big defender hacked at Fletcher's trailing leg and was fortunate to escape a booking.

Fletcher went to ground without any real contact having been made and because that was the third time he'd gone down easily Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller had a stern word and rightly so.

Minutes later the Hibs striker's header looped over the bar but Iceland were growing in confidence. Bjarni Eiriksson played Indridi Sigurosson through and Stephen McManus had to be alert to block.

Eidur Gudjohnsen was beginning to find space and possession and Iceland were competing better in midfield but suddenly Scotland had a chance.

Darren Fletcher put Miller away in the box but he took too many touches and the opportunity was lost. But with five minutes left to half-time all was well.

Hutton galloped down the right, knocked the ball past Eiriksson, hit the byline and cut a superb passback for McCormack. One touch was all he needed and the ball swerved into the top left-hand corner of the keeper's net.

Finally Hampden was alive with fresh hope although McManus had to concede another corner, which had to be defended, before the Scots got inside for a breather.

While the players were inside taking instruction from Burley the substitutes went on to the pitch to warm up.Well, six of the seven did. Ferguson stood in the mouth of the tunnel watching. Perhaps he didn't want to be booed again.

Gunnleifsson almost gifted Scotland a chance within seconds of the restart but the keeper, under pressure from Morrison, gathered the ball just on the edge of his box.

The Scottish fans thought he had taken the ball outside his area but he just made it.

McCormack won a corner deep on the leftwhen Gretar Steinsson tugged his jersey.

McCormack tried to score directly from the free-kick but the keeper saved and three minutes later Iceland silenced Hampden.

Palmason skipped away from the lunging McManus and whacked a shot from 25 yards.The ball cracked off Gordon's right-hand post and with Scottish defenders watching, Sigurdsson slid in and put the rebound into the net.

Every Scot was shocked but they all perked up when Brown won a free-kick almost 30 yards out. McCormack stepped forward and curled the basll around the wall but Iceland's keeper was well placed.

McManus, who had been off having a cut eye treated, returned in time to get his head on a McCormack corner on the right.

The big Celtic defender headed the ball into the six-yard box where Steven Fletcher was all alone to nod in.

Survived

Hearts' Eggert Jonsson was sent on for Gunnarsson in 69 minutes as Iceland tried to reshape and find another equaliser.They had to because defeat could spell the end of their own campaign and Gudjohnsen stole the ball from Gary Naysmith.

The Barcelona star kept looking for a team-mate to make a run but no one did and Scotland survived but Iceland were stepping up their effort and Hutton had to boot the ball for a corner.

ArnorSmarason took it and fortunately Steinsson headed over as Scotland prepared to send on Gary Teale for Steven Fletcher.

But the officials messed up and put Brown's number up. The fans started to boo just as Burley rushed to the sideline to point out No.10 should have been flashed up. Fletcher did leave, Brown stayed and Scotland went in search of a third goal.

Iceland piled on the pressure in the closing 10 minutes but poor finishing and good fortune saw us through. Seven points we have now but we need nine more to be in with a chance of making the play-offs.

However, we'll worry about that later. Let's have a drink.

Taken from the Daily Record