Pocognoli mulls changes as Scotland seek first win in Skopje
Sebastien Pocognoli faces selection questions ahead of Scotland's Nations League trip to North Macedonia at the Nacionalna Arena Toše Proeski in Skopje on Saturday, 3 October, 19:45 BST after two games produced one point and no goals. His Hampden home debut was disrupted by an early red card and his 10-man side were outclassed by Switzerland, leaving a first win under the Belgian coach needed.
Pocognoli has introduced new faces since taking charge, handing three debuts in his opening two matches, but the early signs have raised tactical and personnel issues rather than clear answers. Scotland have yet to score in competitive action under him and the coach's preferred 3-4-1-2 shape has prompted debate over where to accommodate more attacking options. The upcoming fixture is being shown live on the BBC.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn admitted he'd "probably be disappointed" when reflecting on the goals conceded against the Swiss, and he acknowledged afterwards: "They were good strikes, but as a goalkeeper, I'm always disappointed when I concede a goal." The 30-year-old — Steve Clarke's number one at the World Cup — has continued a difficult run at club level with San Jose Earthquakes, where he has conceded 23 goals in 11 games, and his international display prompted scrutiny.
Pundit Andy Halliday criticised Gunn's handling of Ricardo Rodriguez's opener as "shoulder height [with] not a lot of pace" and added Gunn's failure to keep it out was "so poor". There is discussion over whether Pocognoli will change goalkeeper for Skopje; realistically options are limited, with Scott Bain at Falkirk, Jon McCracken at Bradford in England's League One and Liam Kelly yet to move off the bench for Rangers this term.
Defensive selection also appears to have settled partly through circumstance. Jack Hendry's red card forced a reshuffle at Hampden and saw Stephen Welsh restored to the starting line-up after his debut in Slovenia; Welsh had played on the left of the back three in that game and performed well on the right at home. Welsh was described as vocal and versatile and comfortable carrying the ball, attributes the coach values, and Hendry's suspension removes one option for the weekend. "Red card killed us" says Robertson.
Ben Gannon-Doak has made impact as a substitute in both matches but has yet to start, and pundit Halliday said he would be "shocked" if the Bournemouth player did not start against Group B1's bottom side. Pocognoli's 3-4-1-2 offers no obvious role for Gannon-Doak unless deployed at wing-back, but the 20-year-old's defensive instincts differ from those of Aaron Hickey or Nathan Patterson; Pocognoli has said he is willing to be flexible but has not yet shown it in his match shape.
John McGinn remains a selection dilemma. The Aston Villa captain won a "bounty of fouls" against Switzerland and was "much-improved" in the second half at the Stozice Arena, yet the coach needs more consistency from a player who is on 91 caps as he approaches a century. Up front, Kieron Bowie should get another chance after being sacrificed just over 10 minutes into his first Scotland start to make space for Welsh; his early partnership with Oli McBurnie produced promising signs in roughly 20 minutes in Slovenia and McBurnie's recent work-rate as a largely solo striker has been commended five years on from his last international involvement.
Scotland have now gone four games without scoring and are 25 minutes away from equalling a 1970-71 mark of 447 minutes without a goal, with it having been 422 minutes since John McGinn's deflected strike against Haiti in Boston. The next confirmed step is the Nations League fixture in Skopje on Saturday, 3 October, 19:45 BST, where Pocognoli will seek his first win in charge.
