Scotland’s gradual improvement under Gordon Strachan continued with a goalless draw against the United States at Hampden last night.
The match was low in action but there was plenty of positives the Scots could take from the encounter in which they enjoyed a decent amount of possession and chances against a US team that is preparing to play in a seventh consecutive World Cup next summer.
Optimism around the Scotland team has increased after wins against Croatia and Macedonia and, although the Scots were unable to win three in a row for the first time since 2007, they produced a performance which would have left Strachan reasonably satisfied.
Brighton defender Gordon Greer made his Scotland debut at the age of 32 as Scotland manager Gordon Strachan used the friendly to give some of his fringe players a chance to impress.
Sunderland forward Steven Fletcher made his first appearance for the national team since limping off early in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Wales in March, while Craig Conway, also of Brighton, started in place of Watford midfielder Ikechi Anya, who had failed to train on Thursday due to injury.
This was the last time Scotland will play at Hampden before development work begins for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Scots were determined to sign off in style.
Craig Levein’s Scotland suffered a 5-1 defeat by the United States in a friendly match in Florida in May last year but Strachan’s side went into the match full of confidence following a morale-boosting 2-0 win against Croatia last month.
The aim for the Scotland manager was to maintain that momentum ahead of the qualifying process for Euro 2016 getting under way next year, although that was going to be no easy task against an American side that has qualified for next year’s World Cup in Brazil and is currently ranked 13th in the world.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s men were without captain Clint Demspey, who missed out with a calf injury, so Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard led the side in the absence of the Fulham forward.
The hosts made a positive start against a United States team that was playing at a pedestrian pace, with Fletcher failing to hit the target with a speculative volley from 25 yards before Conway scooped a shot over the crossbar.
The United States finally upped the tempo, and when the Scotland defence failed to deal with Roma midfielder Michael Bradley’s free kick, the loose ball fell invitingly for Jozy Altidore but his venomous volley was too high to trouble David Marshall.
The Scots ended the half strongly and Conway should have broken the deadlock when he was sent through on goal by Fletcher but the former Dundee United player dragged his shot wide with only Howard to beat.
After a rather uneventful first period in which neither side managed to muster a shot on target, the second half got off to a more promising start with Marshall making a comfortable save to deny Altidore before Charlie Mulgrew drew a smart stop from Howard at the other end following a clever free kick from Crystal Palace midfielder Barry Bannan.
A foul by Geoff Cameron brought Steven Whittaker’s rampaging run from defence to an abrupt end but Snodgrass almost netted with an exquisite effort from the resulting free kick, only to be denied by a superb save from Howard. The hosts had a decent claim for a penalty when Omar Gonzalez looked to have handled a Conway cross waved away by referee Michael Oliver before Altidore went close at the other end with a powerful low drive after an error by Mulgrew.
After the encouraging start to the half, the game slipped back into a slower pace with Strachan introducing Ross McCormack, who netted four goals for Leeds United at the weekend, and Rangers left back Lee Wallace for Snodgrass and Whittaker in a bid to give his side fresh impetus. The visitors almost conjured up a winning goal eight minutes from time but Marshall produced an excellent stop to thwart Aron Johannsson’s low shot with Blackburn Rovers defender Grant Hanley making a brave clearance to prevent Altidore turning home the rebound. Dundee United’s Gary Mackay-Steven was given a first cap in the closing stages, replacing thetiring Conway, but was unable to prevent the match ending in a stalemate.
SCOTLAND – Marshall, Hutton, Whittaker (Wallace 69), Hanley, Greer, Bannan (Naismith 80), Mulgrew, Brown, Fletcher, Snodgrass (McCormack 69), Conway (Mackay-Steven 84). S
UNITED STATES – Howard, Evans (Lichaj 72), Gonzalez, Cameron, Beasley, Bradley, Jones (Johannsson 62), Bedoya (Wondolowski 81), Kljestan (Diskerud 62), Eddie Johnson (Shea 62), Altidore (Boyd 90).
Referee – Michael Oliver.
Attendance: 30,000