Scotland U21s 0 Holland U21s 0: match report

Scotland's unbeaten run in Under-21 European Championship qualifying continued with a goalless draw against Group 10 leaders Holland at St Mirren Park.

It was a match of few clear-cut chances, with Johnny Russell denied midway through the second half after being played in by substitute Scott Allan.

Billy Stark's side more than held their own against the group pacesetters, remaining a point behind having taken four points out of six from the Dutch during the campaign.

Jordan Rhodes, who has 30 goals for Huddersfield this season, and David Wotherspoon were on target as Scotland beat Holland 2-1 in Nijmegen in November, but Holland recognised the danger on the return.

Dutch captain Bram Nuytinck marked Rhodes, Scotland's lone front man, tightly throughout and successfully nullified the threat.

With the 10 group winners and four leading runners-up advancing to a play-off - with seven teams to join hosts Israel at the 2013 finals - Scotland remain in with a chance of advancing with matches against Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Austria to follow.

Scotland threatened twice from wide positions in the opening minute, first from a Gary Mackay-Steven cross from the left and then one from Ryan Jack on the right, but the Dutch defence scrambled clear on each occasion.

The hosts had to be patient, with Holland holding possession and Russell shot over from 25 yards, while Adam Maher replied with an effort which flashed narrowly wide.

Scotland went close again when Wotherspoon weaved into the box after combining with Russell, and Nuytinck pulled him back, but the Hibernian forward stayed on his feet, only to be stopped by a covering tackle from Leandro Bacuna.

From the resulting corner Holland missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead.

Goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet claimed the cross and launched a long kick forward. Maher played in Lerin Duarte, who mis-controlled before firing wide with only Mark Ridgers to beat.

Rhodes had an effort blocked by Patrick van Aanholt before prodding the rebound weakly through to Zoet under pressure from three Dutch defenders.

Russell then shot over from long range before Ridgers saved from Marco van Ginkel, who had another effort blocked by Ross Perry.

A Russell cut-back to Tom Cairney was cut out by Zoet and the Hull midfielder went down in the six-yard box but referee Clement Turpin waved play on.

A Bacuna shot from close range ricocheted off his team-mate Nacer Barazite, with Danny Wilson in close attendance, as the match reached the interval level.

Ridgers saved a shot from Maher and Van Ginkel blasted over soon after as Holland resumed on the attack.

Liam Kelly missed the target from the edge of the box before Wilson headed a Mackay-Steven corner onto the roof of the net.

After a foul on Mackay-Steven inside the hosts' half, Scotland surged forward, but Rhodes overhit his pass across goal to Wotherspoon when an accurate ball might have resulted in a shot on goal.

After 68 minutes Allan replaced Cairney, with Wotherspoon dropping deeper, as Scotland looked to break the deadlock.

But it was Holland who next came close when Jeffrey Gouweleeuw threaded the ball through to the left side of the penalty area for Barazite, but Ridgers reacted quickly to make a crucial save.

Russell was then played through by former Dundee United team-mate Allan, now on loan at Portsmouth from West Brom, but Zoet was equal to the shot.

Allan shot narrowly over moments later before making space for a right-footed shot which he hit straight at Zoet.

Zoet smothered the ball as Rhodes tried to make space for himself to shoot from a Jack pass with five minutes left as Scotland had to settle for a draw despite finishing the stronger.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk