Norway end Scotland's unbeaten home run

Scotland 0 Norway 1

Berti Vogts’ job was once more on the line after his unbeaten home record in competitive matches was brought to an unhappy end by Norway.

Steffen Iversen’s 64th-minute penalty was enough to hand Norway their first win of the World Cup qualifying campaign and leave the Scots wallowing in the depths of Group Five with just one point gathered from two Hampden Park fixtures.

James McFadden had been sent off for conceding the spot-kick and Vogts had himself already been banished to the stands at half-time.

It was certainly Iversen’s day however, with the striker having made a vital block on his own goal-line to deny Richard Hughes a certain goal in the first half.

It was the Scots’ first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier since 1985 and only their second in 39 years.

It all adds up to more ammunition for the German’s many critics although there will also be thoughts of what might have been accompanying the squad to Moldova in two days’ time

Half an hour had been played and Scotland had hardly looked like scoring when, all of a sudden, everyone was wondering whether they actually had.

The Tartan Army were convinced Iversen had failed to stop Hughes’ shot from crossing the line and certainly the former Tottenham man had both feet over the white paint as he hacked the ball away.

But Belgian referee Paul Allaerts ruled that play should continue and the first half was destined to remain scoreless.

Hughes, the Portsmouth midfielder who had not even been in the squad until Tuesday, had been no more than four yards out anyway so perhaps he should have done better when he reacted instinctively to Thomas Myhre’s block after Paul Dickov’s shot.

Until then it had been Norway who had looked more dangerous with the giant frontman John Carew causing Scotland all sorts of problems.

The first threat, after Myhre had saved an early McFadden free-kick, was unexpected however as he showed remarkable close control to beat Gary Holt and then Gary Caldwell down the left.

His cut-back from the by-line was perfect for Jan Derek Sorensen in front of goal and it needed Hughes to get in the way to prevent a certain goal.

Carew then headed over from six yards out as the Scots tried to cope as best they could with one of the tallest players in world football.

Dickov had been the subject of a rare public rebuke from Vogts beforehand, with the German complaining that the normally aggressive striker had been too subdued in training.

The net result was a frenzied performance from the Blackburn man which saw him booked for kicking Erik Hagen up the backside with the ball elsewhere.

It meant he was banned for Wednesday’s game in Moldova – which now had ‘must win’ written all over it in block capitals – and that Vogts must plan yet more changes.

With Steven Pressley, Nigel Quashie, Jackie McNamara and Malky Mackay all absent injured, Hughes, Holt and Russell Anderson were the men brought into the starting line-up.

Anderson, the Aberdeen centre-half, most looked the part although it was no mean task to cope with the number of corners and long throw-ins the visitors were able to hurl into the box.

Rookie goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who kept his place ahead of the even more inexperienced David Marshall, looked far calmer than he had against Slovenia last month however, when he had used up a whole career’s worth of luck to keep a clean sheet.

The home fans were roused by Mel Gibson’s speech from Braveheart before the second half kicked off, presumably in the hope that an Australian could inspire them more than a German.

In any case, Vogts had been sent to the stands after letting the official have a piece of his mind as soon as the half time whistle went.

Within 10 minutes however McFadden had joined him after being sent off for a goal-line stop that was an all too obvious use of a hand.

Carew had won a corner and Claus Lundekvam’s header was sailing in before McFadden made the supreme sacrifice by stopping it with a palm.

It was a decision he probably regretted within a millisecond and as soon as he was shown a red card Iversen slotted home the penalty with ease.

Blackburn striker Morten Gamst Pedersen replaced midfielder Magne Hoseth just before the hour mark to stretch the Scots’ back line even further.

Dickov was still an angry man but he was more disappointed when, following a neat turn to fool Erik Hagen on the edge of the area, Myhre was able to anticipate his goal-bound low drive.

Caldwell was booked for upending Pedersen and with 15 minutes remaining Dickov was replaced by Kenny Miller.

Pedersen should have put the game beyond Scotland’s reach when he left Caldwell on his backside in the box but with only Gordon to beat he fired over from six yards.

With 10 minutes remaining Steven Thompson had replaced Holt to give the 10 men another attacking option but there was to be no dramatic equaliser, despite a stoppage time tumble in the box by substitute Stephen Pearson.