Sky Sports pundit Craig Gordon has admitted he felt sorry for Celtic team-mate Scott Bain as he conceded three goals in Scotland’s humiliating defeat to Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Bain, 27, has become the Hoops’ number one goalkeeper since the winter break and Allan McGregor’s retirement from international football meant that he was also promoted to the starting spot in Alex McLeish’s side.
However it was a competitive debut to forget for the former Dundee shot-stopper as the Scots lost 3-0 in their Euro 2020 qualifier at the Astana Arena, but Gordon feels as though it will be harsh to criticise him.
“It’s a great header. Exactly what you would want from your striker, back across the goal giving Scott Bain no chance,” Gordon said about Kazakhstan’s third goal on Sky Sports Main Event after the game on Thursday [05:07pm].
“I feel a bit sorry for Scott conceding three goals on his competitive debut. There’s not an awful lot he could have done about them.”
OPINION
Gordon is right to say that Bain could not have done a lot more to stop Kazakhstan from scoring their goals. All three of their goals could have been prevented if the defenders in front of him were playing better. Scott McKenna and Graeme Shinnie had absolute nightmares in the Euro 2020 qualifiers while David Bates hardly impressed in the heart of the defence either. Bain will want to forget that game in a hurry but it was his competitive debut for his country, so it is a shame that he was on the receiving end of such a humiliating defeat. Kazakhstan were the better team throughout the game and Scotland looked completely devoid of any ideas when playing against what was quite a solid defence. It would be a massive shock if McLeish’s men qualified for the 2020 European Championships after such a heavy defeat against a team they should be beating with ease. San Marino might fancy their chances now.