GOALKEEPER Cieran Slicker’s debut for Scotland could not have got off to a worse start against Iceland.
The Ipswich Town shot-stopper replaced the injured Angus Gunn as Steve Clarke’s men were forced into an early change in the June friendly.
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Gunn, who is looking for a new club after being released by Norwich City, went off following a seemingly innocuous challenge after just a few minutes.
It meant Clarke had to turn to his bench.
And, a few minutes later, Slicker was forced to pick the ball out of his net with one of his first touches, as his dream moment turned into a nightmare.
Andri Gudjohnsen capitalised on the goalkeeper’s slack pass out, rifling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to give the visitors the lead on eight minutes.
That mistake clearly dented the 22-year-old’s confidence as he needlessly gave the ball away just minutes later before enduring a few other nervy moments.
A few shakes of the head after the goal showed his frustration, with his arm going up to his team-mates to acknowledge his mistake.
Scotland’s next match is against Liechtenstein on Monday before going into the World Cup qualifiers in September.
And on this evidence of this display, it is going to have to be a vastly improved performance.
Clarke gave debut starts to Max Johnston, fresh from winning the Austrian Bundesliga with Sturm Graz, and striker George Hirst, while Kieran Tierney earned his 50th cap.
John Souttar levelled for Scotland half way through the first half, converting Johnston’s corner with a header.
But the Scots conceded again in calamitous fashion just before the break.
An Iceland corner was not properly dealt with by the defence.
The ball cannoned off Souttar inside the six-yard box and then Ferguson, with Slicker not covering himself in glory as the ball crept over the line.
More to follow…
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