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Come On Scotland !!!!!

BobBev

Thanks fellas. Neilson is one of the first names on the teamsheet. He's very effective and really consistent.

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 5
Half Time
Scotland 2 (Parker 11, Cosgrove 25) Croatia 0

RK - A fine first half performance by Scotland then Andy.

AG - An excellent performance indeed.

RK - Ross and Wilkie are playing well at the back.

AG - Yes, they look really solid I must say. And Michael Stewart is guarding the back two very well indeed. He can’t get a game at Man Utd but he really is a class act.

RK - The early goal from Kiegan Parker settled the nerves.

AG - Well we started very positively. Stephen Cosgrove forced an excellent save from Runje in the first minute with a great right-footed shot although we did survive a strong penalty appeal just before Parker scored when Ross barged Obilinovic in the area. Let’s look at the goal. Cosgrove started the move with a neat pass to Neilson who in turn found Hampshire. He picked out McCulloch with a 30-yard pass and the Partick man spotted Parker’s run into the box and played a defence splitting pass. Parker controlled the ball well and rounded the keeper to score.

RK - But Croatia tried to hit back quickly.

AG - Yes, Vranjes picked out Klasnic and his shot was well saved by Sullivan.

RK - Then on 25 minutes Cosgrove got the second.

AG - It came from a free kick conceded by Chelsea’s Igor Biscan. Cosgrove tees it up and his shot gets through the wall and beats the keeper. The Croatia defence will be a bit disappointed with that one. McCulloch nearly made it three a few minutes later but his excellent volley just skimmed the top of the bar. Croatia then got away with a penalty appeal themselves as Hampshire was bundled over in the area. But Croatia tested Sullivan again when Klasnic made room for the shot but we held on until half time.

RK - So more of the same in the second half we hope. We’ll take a short break now and then go back to Hampden for the rest of the game. See you all at full time.

Brian of Nazareth

Belated commiserations on the Euro final - but full credit you got that far with a depleted squad :thup: Looks like the road to the World Cup is progressing nicely. Keep it up - great work.

BobBev

Thanks Brian - glad you're enjoying it.

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 5
Full Time
Scotland 4 (Parker 11, 74, Cosgrove 25, Lynch 76) Croatia 0

RK - We said more of the same and we got more of the same.

AG - We certainly did - another two goals and an excellent victory. Brian McAllister replaced a tiring Jim Paterson at half time. It was a quiet start to the half - Scotland seeing a lot of the ball but not really threatening. But here’s a chance for Parker as Wilkie pumps the free kick forward, Hampshire with the knockdown for Lynch who tees up Parker but his shot is very well saved by Runje. Now here’s a chance for Cosgrove as substitute Stephen Hughes picks him out in the area but his shot is parried well. Hampshire is first to the rebound and he tries to chip the ball to Lynch but Runje does well to recover and punch the ball clear. But then with 15 minutes remaining the game was made safe. Good interplay between Wilkie and Hughes, then the ball goes out to McAllister on the left who delivers to the near post and Parker is first to the ball to prod it home. Croatia had a scoring chance from the restart as Robert Kovac gets his head to a Mumlek cross but Sullivan saved well. Now let’s look at debutant Simon Lynch’s goal - this is a lovely flowing move. Sullivan with the throw to McAllister, he links with Hampshire who finds Parker with a great pass. The Rangers youngster then picks out Lynch in the area and he finishes really well.

RK - A really good win for the Scots then. Now we can join Claire Tomlinson in Glasgow who is with a delighted Berti Wogts.


CT - Berti, what a good performance and a great win.

BW - Ja, maybe one of ze best results zat ve haff had. I am very pleased wiz ze boys - it vas a much good teamwork today.

CT - Same again on Wednesday against Bosnia?

BW - I surely hope so Claire - it vould be very nice to get anozer good win.

CT - All the best for that one and well done again.


RK - Let’s take a look at the match statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Croatia12 Shots on Goal 48 On Target 34 Off Target 11 Corners 18 Free Kicks 51 Offsides 51 Yellow Cards 00 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - And what about Man of the Match Andy?

AG - Well it was just a really good team performance and I was impressed with how well Simon Lynch played. But it’s got to be the outstanding Kiegan Parker.

RK - And finally a check on the other group games.

AG - Bosnia had a 2-0 win in Moldova and Russia maintained their place at the top of the group with a 4-0 win over Malta in Moscow.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Russia 5 2 1 0 9 2 2 0 0 5 1 13 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Scotland 5 3 0 0 9 0 1 1 0 3 2 13 3rd Croatia 5 0 1 1 2 4 2 0 1 12 5 7 4th Bosnia 5 1 0 1 4 3 1 1 1 4 3 7 5th Malta 5 1 0 1 3 7 0 0 3 0 11 3 6th Moldova 5 0 0 3 0 9 0 0 2 1 5 0</pre>


RK - Scotland’s next qualifying game is in just 4 days time when Moldova visit Hampden Park. This should be a comfortable win for Berti’s boys.

AG - On paper it certainly should be - let’s hope that’s how it works out.

RK - Thanks again for your analysis Andy and we’ll look forward to seeing all of you at home on Wednesday for the match against Moldova.

[This message was edited by Peacemaker7 on 12 January 2004 at 12:13.]

BobBev

Sky Sports
Wednesday March 30, 2005
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Well Andy, Berti will be expecting a comfortable win over visiting Moldova who are bottom of the table without a point so far.

AG - You’d certainly think so Richard. Berti’s putting out an unchanged team from the excellent 4-0 defeat of Croatia on Saturday with the exception of Mark Kerr coming in for Mark McCulloch.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Steven Hampshire Simon Lynch Kiegan Parker Mark Kerr Stephen CosgroveJim Paterson Michael Stewart Robbie Neilson Lee Wilkie Maurice Ross Neill Sullivan (C)SubstitutesJamie LangfieldBrian McAllisterDerek McInnesDarren FletcherStephen HughesCharlie MillerMarc Anthony</pre>


RK - Not much more to say about that then Andy, so we’ll take a break and then go over to our commentary team in Glasgow and then we’ll be back at half time.

Da Bird

Bobbev, still a great story! One question: how are things going with Berti's reputation?

BobBev

Thanks Da Bird. Off the top of my head I'm not sure but I'll have a look when I fire the game up tonight.

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 6
Half Time
Scotland 1 (Parker 7) Moldova 0

RK - Lots of pressure in the first 45 minutes but little to show for it in terms of goals.

AG - Especially considering the great start by Kiegan Parker. This is virtually straight from the kick-off here as Neilson takes the throw in to Lynch who finds Hampshire, on to Parker but his effort is just wide. Another chance here as Cosgrove takes the free kick and Wilkie rises high with the header but he couldn’t keep the ball down. Here’s the goal now - Parker picks the ball up and goes for goal but his shot hits the defender. Cosgrove picks up the lose ball and gives it back to Parker who fires home. It’s all Scotland now and Paterson sends in a nice cross, Cosgrove gets his head to it but he sends it just wide. This is a good early cross from Kerr that Hampshire gets his head to and he’s unlucky to see his effort come back off the crossbar. But Moldova regrouped well and worked hard to close down the space and limit our chances.

RK - What about the penalty appeal Andy?

AG - It looked pretty clear-cut to me Richard - the defender just takes away Paterson’s legs but the referee waves the appeal away.

RK - And there were a few more chances near the end of the half.

AG - Yes, this is a good ball in from Neilson, strong header by Hampshire and a good save. The same combination again here - Neilson with the cross, Hampshire with the header and a really fine fingertip save. This time it’s Paterson crossing from the left, Hampshire with another header but this one is just wide. Right at the end of the half now and Lynch gets free in the area, tries to loft it over the keeper but he just gets a hand to it.

RK - Do you see any changes at half time?

AG - I doubt it. We just need to be patient and keep doing what we’re doing.

RK - Thanks Andy. We’ll go back to Hampden after the break and see you all at full time.

BobBev

Da Bird - Berti's reputation is GOOD and Scotland have risen to 16th in the FIFA rankings. They were in the mid-30s at the start of the game I think.

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 6
Full Time
Scotland 2 (Parker 7, Hughes 90) Moldova 0

RK - A quieter second half and a very late goal to make the game safe then Andy.

AG - Yes, hardly any chances but nice to see Stephen Hughes come on and get a goal. The goal came in stoppage time at the end of the game. Substitute Marc Anthony makes space for the shot and the keeper does well to make the save at the expense of a corner. Darren Fletcher takes the corner kick and Hughes rises high to head home.

RK - So another three points for Scotland and that’s all that matters. I think that we can now go over to Hampden Park where Claire Tomlinson is waiting to talk to Berti Wogts.


CT - Well done Berti - three more points but maybe not as many goals as you would have wanted.

BW - Vell, it vould haff been good to have scored more but ze most important thing is the vin and ze points. If ve keep winning zen ve vill haff a big chance of getting to ze finals..

CT - You have to wait for a couple of months before the trip to Malta - do you expect another big win?

BW - I for sure expect to get ze vin but it doesn’t really matter about ze score.

CT - All the best for that one and well done again.


RK - Let’s take a look at the match statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Moldova14 Shots on Goal 27 On Target 17 Off Target 14 Corners 29 Free Kicks 134 Offsides 71 Yellow Cards 00 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - And what about Man of the Match Andy?

AG - Well despite the lack of goals there were a number of really good performances. Robbie Neilson, Michael Stewart, Steven Hampshire and Stephen Cosgrove all played really well but once again I’m going with Kiegan Parker.

RK - And finally a check on the other group games.

AG - Croatia comfortably beat Malta 5-0 in Zagreb and Russia beat Bosnia 3-0 in Moscow so the table now looks like this.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Russia 6 3 1 0 12 2 2 0 0 5 1 16 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Scotland 6 4 0 0 11 0 1 1 0 3 2 16 3rd Croatia 6 1 1 1 7 4 2 0 1 12 5 10 4th Bosnia 6 1 0 1 4 3 1 1 2 4 6 7 5th Malta 6 1 0 1 3 7 0 0 4 0 16 3 6th Moldova 6 0 0 3 0 9 0 0 3 1 7 0</pre>


RK - We have over two months to wait for the next qualifying game in Malta but that should be an easy three points Andy.

AG - It must be three points and it’s a great chance to improve our goal difference.

RK - Well thanks again Andy and we’ll see you all again in June for the next match.

BobBev

Sky Sports
Wednesday June 8, 2005
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Andy this must be a great chance for another three points in the bank and an improved goal difference as Scotland visit Malta.

AG - I surely hope so Richard. The way this group is going we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of goal difference as it may all come down to that in the end.

RK - But since Scotland’s defeat of Moldova in March the SFA made the intriguing decision to play a friendly in April against Russia of all teams.

AG - Totally bizarre! Playing a friendly against your biggest rivals in the qualification group - only Hughie McScrooge and his cronies would think of that one. And even worse, it was in Moscow - unbelievable.

RK - But good results for the U21s and the Seniors nonetheless.

AG - Yes, the youngsters won 2-1 with goals from Jamie McCunnie of Dundee United and Kevin Hughes of Man City and a Darren Fletcher goal gave the seniors a 1-0 win. Now that Darren is a first choice starter at Man United I would expect to see him feature more often at international level.

RK - What’s the team news tonight Andy?

AG - Well Michael Stewart is suspended so Derek McInnes gets a start. Brian McAllister is getting a start on the left instead of Jim Paterson and Darren Fletcher is having a run out instead of Mark Kerr.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Steven Hampshire Simon Lynch Kiegan Parker Mark McCulloch Stephen CosgroveBrian McAllister Derek McInnes Robbie Neilson Lee Wilkie Maurice Ross Neill Sullivan (C)SubstitutesJamie LangfieldPhil McGuireJim PatersonMark KerrStephen HughesCharlie MillerCraig Dargo</pre>


RK - Do you expect the usual attacking approach from Berti’s boys tonight?

AG - They are certain to attack from the off I’m sure. Russia visit Moldova tonight and they will no doubt be looking for goals too.

RK - Well we hope that the Scots get a hatful. Now we’ll take a break before we go over for the first half and we’ll see you after the break.

Da Bird

Thanks for the info BobBev... I thought the rep should be at least good... and it is ... Good luck with Malta..