SCOTLAND TAKE LOW ROAD by Glenn Gibbons
 

SCOTLAND are never likely to produce high marks for presentation, but diligence, tenacity and a little good fortune proved to be adequate compensations on a night when the elusive play-off for Euro 2000 in the Low Countries was finally secured.

The first-half penalty converted by John Collins was in the gift of the Swedish referee, but the little Everton man's timing was impeccable. If you're going to score your first goal in the campaign, you might as well do it in the most crucial match.

Given the significance of the occasion and the delicacy of their situation, the Scots could be pardoned for allowing a certain caution to invade their play, especially during that period of exploratory sparring which tends to mark the opening 20 minutes or so of international matches.
 

But there were times when it was impossible to escape the discomforting impression that the home side's lack of skirmishing in Bosnian territory had more to do with their opponents' capabilities than any pre-planned strategy.Indeed, when Collins converted the penalty which gave Brown's team the lead, even the most violently prejudiced Scotland fan would have been forced to concede that the goal had been scored against the general run of play.
 

This is not to suggest that Bosnia - re-cast after their defeat by Scotland in Sarajevo last month - were notably superior, but they did look the more menacing for much of the time, particularly when Elvir Baljic, the Real Madrid midfielder converted to striker for the night, was allowed room to manoeuvre with the ball.

Bringing his team-mates into the fray with quick appraisals and despatches, Baljic carried a serious threat. His strike partner, Elvir Bolic, had shown his deadly quickness in Sarajevo and quickly confirmed that the few weeks since then had not made him any less dangerous.

This could not be said of his counterpart, Kevin Gallacher, the Newcastle striker at times looking so one-paced as to be almost slovenly. He was not helped by some overhit passing from his suppliers, but there is always a feeling of dread when it becomes obvious that opposing defenders are naturally quicker than the home forward.

In fact, Gallacher's lingering in the Bosnian penalty area could have cost Scotland the penalty - which was debatable in any case - taken with such elan by Collins after 25 minutes. Billy Dodds had done the early hard work to dispossess Mira Varesanovic and crossed from the right.

The ball came out to Craig Burley and, as the Celtic midfielder played it towards David Hopkin on the right side of the area, Gallacher was yards offside. The farside linesman, clearly in benevolent mood, allowed play to continue on the grounds that Gallacher was moving out of the area.

Hopkin virtually barged his way past Sergej Barbarez and seemed to make the most of the slight contact between the players as the Bosnian defender tried to make a challenge. Had it happened at the other end, the Swedish referee, Leif Sundell, would surely have come in for some bad-mouthing.

Collins showed exemplary composure in taking advantage of the Scots' fortune, left-footing the ball low to the left of Adnan Guso and just inside the post.

That was something of a relief, as Bosnia had mounted more promising attacks during the first half, even if their long-range shooting did not trouble Neil Sullivan.

They could have taken advantage when Paul Lambert fouled Baljic close to the penalty box, but, as the Madrid player's scoring attempt sent the ball soaring into the night sky, we had time to wonder if this was the worst free-kick any of us had ever seen.

Even if the general standard of play was not high, the match was physically demanding and Colin Hendry lasted only 35 minutes before appearing to be troubled by a groin strain and signalling his need to leave.He was replaced by Colin Calderwood.

With Bosnia looking the more accomplished team for much of the time, the Scots had to get by on energetic endeavour, and Hopkin and Dodds tended to personify this quality. The Leeds man's forceful challenging and thrusting down the right could not be described as an aesthetic delight, but it was effective in keeping the dangerous Barbarez busy.

Dodds' harassing of bigger opponents was a constant worry to the visiting defenders, and it was less than the little Dundee United forward deserved when he missed the first truly makeable chance of the second half.

Calderwood played the ball forward to Callum Davidson and the Blackburn full-back's header into the middle left Dodds alone in the chase, with Guso heading for the edge of his penalty area to challenge. Dodds then overhit his lob and the ball sailed over the bar.

Overall, Bosnia looked more effective in building bridges between defence, midfield and attack, over which to send the ball quickly and accurate. It said much for the Scots defence - David Weir, Calderwood, Christian Dailly and Davidson - that they were alert enough to deal with the final thrust for most of the game.

A little more care from Hopkin in the 76th minute, however, could have brought the second goal which would surely have ended the visitors' resistance.

It was a night that had promised to be gruelling and the promise was kept.


Scotland: Sullivan (Wimbledon); Weir (Everton), Dailly (Blackburn), Hendry (Rangers), Davidson (Blackburn); Hopkin (Leeds), Lambert (Celtic), Collins (Everton); Burley (Celtic); Dodds (Dundee Utd), Gallacher (Newcastle). Substitutes: Gould, Calderwood, Ritchie, Cameron, Durrant, McSwegan, Burchill.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Guso; Varesanovic; Kapetanovic, Sabic, Hujdorovic; Besirevic, Ihtijarevic, Mujcin; Barbarez; Baljic, Bolic.

Referee: L. Sundell (Sweden).

Scotland: Sullivan (Wimbledon); Weir (Everton), Dailly (Blackburn), Hendry (Rangers), Davidson (Blackburn); Hopkin (Leeds), Lambert (Celtic), Collins (Everton); Burley (Celtic); Dodds (Dundee Utd), Gallacher (Newcastle). Substitutes: Gould, Calderwood, Ritchie, Cameron, Durrant, McSwegan, Burchill.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Guso; Varesanovic; Kapetanovic, Sabic, Hujdorovic; Besirevic, Ihtijarevic, Mujcin; Barbarez; Baljic, Bolic.

Referee: L. Sundell (Sweden).