Alan Pattullo in Zagreb

Alan Pattullo’s big Scotland verdict from Zagreb.

Transcript

00:00This is Alan Patullo at the Maximir Stadium. Scotland have just suffered another hard luck

00:11story. This one seemed to come in especially agonising fashion having thought they'd snatched

00:20a point through Shea Adams or at least Shea Adams enforced goal. I think the ball might have come

00:29off a Croatian defender. But having thought they'd equalised in the dying moments VAR

00:35intervened the dread hand of VAR and denied Scotland a result that would have been possibly

00:45merited but certainly welcomed given the run they're on. But it was, I feel like I'm repeating

00:54myself, as against Portugal, as against Poland. It was a performance that contained promise and

01:05I think Steve Clarke's right in his post-match comments when he said that he's confident that

01:15luck will turn soon. Let's hope it turns against Portugal and chooses a night at Hamden because

01:22this run, I think now nine competitive matches without a win, it's going to really have to end

01:30sometime soon I think for everyone concerned, chiefly Steve Clarke. But yeah some elements of

01:40promise here tonight. Ben Doak made his first start, first youngest Scotland player to make a

01:48competitive start since Willie Johnston in 1965 I think, and he certainly showed why he was

01:57initially included in the Euro 2024 squad by Steve Clarke. Had to pull out due to injury but it was

02:04good to get a final, a belated look at him from the start and he had a part to play in Scotland's

02:11goal from Ryan Christie. Other points of note, Ryan Craig Gordon I thought played very well. He

02:18came into the side aged 41 and had a sort of personal duel going on with Luka Modric. He's

02:25younger by two years and yeah he made one good start from Modric. On Modric he was superb as

02:34always, really pulled the strings for Croatia and a privilege to be here to watch him. Anyway I'm

02:40signing off. It's been good to be back in Croatia, lovely city Zagreb. Scotland's first defeat in

02:49Zagreb actually this tonight so yeah disappointing on that front but Croatians have been very

02:57welcoming and yeah let's see what Tuesday night brings. Alan Patel, Scotsman football writer.

03:05Tune in to Scotsman.com for my match report which should be online now and

03:10my follow-up which will be online tomorrow, Sunday.