Scotland 3 (McCann 7, Dickov 45, McFadden 73) Faroe
Islands 1 (Johnsson 35)
Attendance 40,901
Scotland set themselves up for the crunch EURO 2004
qualifier in Dortmund on Wednesday with a 3-1 win over
the Faroe Islands at Hampden Park this afternoon, with
former Ranger Neil McCann the outstanding player
afield.
In the end the victory was comfortable enough, but the
Islanders gave Scots Coach Berti Vogts some
nerve-wracking moments before the sheer pressure of
the home attacks paid dividends.
The Faroe Islanders had already provided Berti Vogts
with his most humiliating moment as Scotland Coach
with a 2-2 draw in the opening group fixture in Toftir
one year ago, a game the visitors were extremely
fortunate to salvage anything from, but today there
was a professional outlook and attitude from the
Scots.
A healthy attendance in excess of 40,000 were present
in Mount Florida to see a Scotland side captained by
Barry Ferguson in the absence of the injured Paul
Lambert, and with Neil McCann now also plying his
wares in the Premiership the sole Ibrox presence was
confined to the substitute’s bench in the presence of
Maurice Ross and Steven Thompson.
Right from the whistle Scotland pushed the Faeroese
back on their heels – an inswinging McCann free-kick
inside two minutes found Paul Dickov who managed the
faintest of touches only to see Partick Thistle
goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen scramble to hold the ball.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Scots
converted their early pressure – and the opening goal
duly arrived five minutes later when Dickov’s cross
found McCann, whose left-foot volley found the far
corner of the net.
McCann was intent on demonstrating exactly what
Rangers have lost as he created havoc down both
flanks, combining with Dickov to good effect once
again in twelve minutes when he cut the ball back only
for the Leicester striker to see his shot charged
down.
It had been all Scotland in the opening half-hour, yet
incredibly the Faroe Islands levelled the scoreline on
35 minutes when Rab Douglas was found wanting as he
failed to cut out a Jakup Borg corner, allowing Julian
Johnsson to head home.
The home side made every effort to regain the lead
before the interval, Stephen Crawford twice coming
close when firstly his hook shot from a Barry Ferguson
cross was blocked in 42 minutes, then his angled
effort two minutes later was held by Mikkelsen.
On the stroke of half-time however the Dunfermline
forward turned creator when – released down the right
by a crossfield McCann pass – his ball to the far post
was turned into the net by Dickov to put Scotland 2-1
ahead.
Mikkelsen again defied Crawford five minutes into the
second-half when he charged down Stephen’s drive from
a Colin Cameron pass.
The Faeroese were not out of it altogether however –
Borg coming close in 52 minutes when his 25-yard
free-kick flashed just wide of the target.
Scotland continued to look the likelier to extend
their lead – Dickov almost doing the trick three
minutes later when his turn and shot from Gary
Naysmith’s cross was turned wide by Mikkelsen.
Jamie McFadden was introduced in 58 minutes, replacing
Paul Devlin to a resounding welcome.
A senseless yellow card for Crawford in 61 minutes for
time wasting proved costly, meaning suspension from
Dortmund on Wednesday.
McFadden it was however who ensured victory in 73
minutes when he turned home a low cross from Neil
McCann who by some distance was the ‘Man of the
Match’, eclipsing even his captain who had been less
than impressive.
Steven Thompson replaced Crawford sixty seconds later
as the Scots played out time content with a 3-1 win.
National Coach Berti Vogts afterwards expressed his
satisfaction:
“I am very happy with the win. We started well, but
the result today was more important than the
performance. Neil McCann showed confidence and courage
today. We have nothing to lose in Dortmund.”
Faroe Islanders Boss Henrik Larsen (no relation)
admitted:
“Scotland deserved to win, they were stronger and put
us under a lot of pressure. The second goal killed the
game. The Scots have improved a lot during the past
year.”
SCOTLAND Douglas; McNamara, Naysmith; Webster, Wilkie,
Ferguson; Devlin (McFadden 58), Cameron, Dickov (Rae
68), Crawford (Thompson 74), McCann
UNUSED SUBS Gallacher, Alexander, Ross, Caldwell
FAROE ISLANDS Mikkelsen; J.I.Petersen, Thorsteinsson;
J. Jacobsen, R. Jacobsen, Benjaminsen; Johnsson
(Danielsen 84), Borg (Lamhauge 84), J. Petersen, H.
Petersen (Akselsen 64), Johannesen
UNUSED SUBS Knudsen, Olsen, Flotum, Hansen,
REFEREE Darko Ceferin (Slovenia)