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Page last updated at 21:46 GMT, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 22:46 UK

BBC pundits on Scotland

The BBC's team of expert analysts from Match of the Day and Radio Scotland give their verdicts on Scotland's 2-0 defeat in Georgia.

Alan Hansen
By Alan Hansen
Match of the Day pundit

They just never got going tonight and were always second best.

You could argue that the turning point was the penalty that wasn't given for the foul on James McFadden, but even the most ardent supporter would say they didn't play well from start to finish.

Georgia were good technically but Scotland never got in among them. In truth they didn't deserve to get a point, they played particularly badly.

By Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain and Radio Scotland pundit

It all goes down to the start and the first 30 minutes in particular.

They didn't look like team have been in the past, they didn't look at ease at all, and were over-run in the first 30 minutes.

We all know Scotland should have had a penalty, games can change on incidents on like that, but apart from that 15 minutes in the tail end of first half and going into second, I don't think we played well enough.

I didn't think we looked up for it, for some reason - your lead comes from the back, that's where you're looking for your central defenders to be really up and driving the midfield on, and it didn't really happen.

If you start sluggishly like that, it's very difficult to get the pace back up again. When we didn't get that stonewall penalty you just felt we might as well look forward to the Italy game.

By Billy Dodds
Former Scotland international & BBC Radio Scotland pundit

The warning signs were there at Hampden.

Every one of their young boys played their part and more. I don't think Alex McLeish did, but as the media, we underestimated them.

We tried to do it here and take the weight off our shoulders going in the Italy game, it's not worked out but we've always said if we get to the Italy game and we've got a chance then be happy, be positive.

see also
Georgia 2-0 Scotland
17 Oct 07 |  Internationals
McLeish still positive in defeat
17 Oct 07 |  Internationals
Euro 2008 qualifying as it happened
17 Oct 07 |  Internationals
Georgia v Scotland photos
17 Oct 07 |  Football


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