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Page last updated at 17:29 GMT, Friday, 3 September 2010 18:29 UK

Lithuania v Scotland as it happened

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

MY SPORT: DEBATE

To get involved use My Sport or text us your views & comments on 80295. (Not all contributions can be used)

By David McDaid



2125: So Scotland draw their first Euro 2012 qualifier in Lithuania. It's over now, gone, in the past. We might as well start looking ahead to Liechtenstein. Hopefully there'll be a few Scotland goals on Tuesday night at Hampden. We'll be back with more live text of that one. Good night and, please, don't have nightmares, do sleep easily.

2120: I think the headlines might be quite harsh and I think Scott Brown might get singled out. but i think there';ll be a degree of reality as well.. it's not good at all but it's not over. We needed to lay the foundation's of this campaign with a win tonight and it wasn't good enough." BBC Radio Scotland's Your Call host, Jim Traynor. Group I update: Liechtenstein 0-4 Spain (David Silva).

2120: "I think overall I can definitely see something there we can build on. We deserved a goal tonight. The biggest disappointment for me was the referee. They made foul after foul after foul. There were players who had made five or six fouls without getting a caution. Our biggest challengers are Lithuania and the Czech republic so if we get points in these places then they aren't bad results." Scotland manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland's Chick Young.

2117: "We've got great ability in the squad and we're improving under the new manager with every training session." Scotland's Alan Hutton tells BBC Scotland's Chick Young.

2115: "It was a difficult 90 minutes. It was a very stop-start game. One team looked like scoring and it was us. We just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net - which would have rounded off a very decent performance. We've got a draw and it's just important we win on Tuesday against Lithuania now. If we can four pints from the first two games it won't be a bad start. No need to get disheartened." Scotland captain Darren Fletcher tells BBC Scotland's Chick Young.

My Sport
From The_Ger on My Sport: "Maybe we do expect too much and we've just found our level."

2109: "Our final ball wasn't good enough at times. We didn't create enough clear-cut chances. We didn't really get it going. I still think the defensive line-up was correct but we gave the ball way too much. Tonight was an opportunity to take three points because Lithuania won't challenge for second place in this group." BBC Scotland pundit Gordon Smith.

2107: Lots of disgruntled texts into Sportsound. Your Call with Jim Traynor on BBC Radio Scotland 810 MW should make interesting listening. Apparently Jim Traynor spent much the second half with his head in his hands...

Full time
Full-time: LITHUANIA 0-0 SCOTLAND

2104:
Yellow card
Ridiculous challenge by Ivaskevicius on Alan Hutton who thinks about going toe-to-toe with the Lithuanian. Yellow card, and quite right too.

2103: Corner to Scotland... McFadden takes it to the back post but a foul gives the Lithuanians some repsite.

2102: Three minutes of stoppage time to play... Murdo MacLeod urges the Scots forward with a "COME ON!!!"

2101: Looks like an injury for Steven Whittaker as he comes off to be replaced by Christophe Berra.

2100: Meanwhile, in Liechtenstein, Spain go 3-0 up thanks to Fernando Torres again.

From Colin in Golspie: "Well if this is the best we can do, heaven help us when we meet a good team. "

2058: "The Scotland fans are largely silent now. I think they suspect, like all of us, that this is going to be a goalless start to this campaign." BBC Scotland commentator Richard Gordon.

2057: Only five minutes of the regulation 90 left. Come on Scotland!

2054: Lithuania are working hard and defending really well. Scotland just can't find any way through despite all their possession.

From George in Paisley by text on 80295: "Workman-like from Scotland but workman-like won't see us qualify."

2051: Back in Kaunas, Scotland had Lithuania on the ropes for a couple of minutes, with the home side packing the penalty box to block the way to their goal.

2049: If you want to give your opinions to Jim Traynor the lines are open for Your Call now. The magic number is 0500 92 95 00

2047: "I'm a wee bit surprised at that change because Scott Brown looks the sharpest of the midfielders. But we're getting overrun a bit in the centre of the field right now." BBC Scotland pundit Murdo MacLeod.

2046: in to the last 15 minutes now and shortly Scott Brown makes way for James Morrison to earn his seventh cap.

2040: Straight away McFadden looks up for it as he attempts a run a-la-Archie Gemmill. perhaps he was trying to take on too many players though.

2039:
Yellow card
Booking number three for the home side. Andrius Skerla's name is taken down for a foul on Kenny Miller.

2038: First substitution for Scotland... James McFadden is coming on for Barry Robson.

2035: "Lithuania are starting to look a bit more dangerous." BBC Scotland pundit Murdo MacLeod.

My Sport
From The_Ger on My Sport: "Another game that Fletcher is a bystander. He can turn it on for Man United but not for Scotland."

"I wouldn't change anything at the moment with the team - if it isn't broken, don't fix it. All we need is a goal." BBC 1 Scotland pundit John Robertson.

2033: "This is like a basketball match!" says a breathless BBC commentator Richard Gordon. It really is end-to-end right now.

2031: This time Steven Naismith has the ball laid on a plate 20 yards out but his shot is weak and straight to Karcemarskas. Meanwhile, up the other end Allan McGregor is rounded but Hutton comes to the rescue to clear the danger.

2030: Scotland are getting forward and into good positions, but they're finding it difficult to test the Lithuanian keeper.

2026: It's been an unhappy start to qualifying for one Home Nation... Wales have lost 1-0 in Montenegro.

2023: Yet another penalty claim as Cesnauskis falls at inside the corner of the area. yet again the Turkish referee is not impressed.

2020: Kenny Miller should have put Scotland 1-0 up there! Good play from Robson on they right to deliver the ball to the Rangers forward on the penalty spot. But couldn't get enough power or direction on his header and it sails staright into the goalie's arms. Chance wasted.

2018: Another free-kick for Scotland. Barry Robson claims it again, 30 yards out, but he can't clear the wall.

2017: Scotland get the second period under way. No changes to either line-up.

2015: All of Sportsound's pundits agree Scott Brown is walking a red card tightrope. Murdo MacLeod wonders if Scotland can keep up the same tempo in the second half.

2013: Ah... David Villa makes it 2-0 to Spain.

2009: Liechtenstein didn't hold out long after all. Fernando Torres gives Spain a 1-0 lead in the 'doubly landlocked alpine microstate'. Thanks, Wikipedia...

2005: "I don't share the optimism of the commentary team. Throughout the first half we've given the ball away. Scott Brown's been fouling away and our free-kicks have all been too central to trouble their keeper. It's been a scrappy 45 minutes. We've worked hard, but we need to stop giving the ball away." BBC Scotland's Your Call host Jim Traynor.

Do you agree?
Half time
Half-time: LITHUANIA 0-0 SCOTLAND

My Sport
From NoGoodSportsInCanada on My Sport: "What more can we ask for?? GOALS!"

You did ask, shedrool...
My Sport
From shedrool on My Sport: "Playing well and making chances, what more can we ask for??"

1957:
Yellow card
Lithuania want a penalty as Mikoliunas went down with Scott Brown on his shoulder. Then Brown takes out home captain Tomas Danilevicius in midfield... yellow card for him.

1956: "Scotland boss Craig Levein will be delighted with the plan so far and the shape the team are taking." BBC 1 Scotland pundit John Robertson

1955: By the way, 10 minutes played in Liechtenstein and they're holding Spain at 0-0.

1950: Stephen McManus hits a cross-goal volley - right-footed! - which goes a couple of yards past the post. That was a good effort from the big centre-back. Darren Fletcher was the provider from a free-kick.

From Iain in Stirling by text on 80295: "Scotland are not bad but need to speed up the play. When we do we create danger."

My Sport
From utdupnorth on My Sport: "Come on boys. Keep the heid and we'll be up against the Lithuania nine after an hour."

He could be on to something there, the home side have thrown themselves into some meaty tackles...
1944: Half-hearted claims for a penalty as Steven Naismith goes down under a challenge in the box. Waved away by Mr Cakirand rightly so. But Robson forces another save from Karcemarskas as Scotland try to keep up the pressure.

1942: "It's been an encouraging opening 25 minutes for Scotland, we just need that bit of extra quality to make the difference." BBC 1 Scotland pundit John Robertson

1940: Barry Robson hits a free-kick from about 25 yards which has goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas scrambling to parry away.

1937:
Yellow card
Another card for Lithuania a few moments ago... Radavicius for a foul on Alan Hutton.

1936: "This is so different from that Sweden friendly in so many ways! The attitude's different, the tempo's different. Lithuania have troubled Scotland once or twice but it's a decent start to Scotland's European qualifying campaign." BBC Radio Scotland commentator Richard Gordon.

1933: Sheesh! Heart-in-mouth moment there... Former Tynecastle favourite man Saulius Mikoliunas collects a through-ball and forces an excellent save from Allan McGregor from about 12 yards.

1932:
Yellow card
First card of the night. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir shows a yellow to Tadas Kijanskas for persistent fouling apparently. Hacking down Robson was the final straw.

1931: "A super start from Scotland. They're in and about every single challenge." BBC Scotland's Sportsound pundit Murdo MacLeod.

1930: Full-back Alan Hutton goes on a run upfield, beats two men, but overruns the ball and it goes out for a goal kick.

1926: Steven Whittaker can be great going forward, but sometimes 'iffy' in defence... After starting that attacking move a moment ago, he passes the ball from defence straight to one of the opposing team. Thankfully the cross is dealt with easily. Next time Scotland might be punished.

1923: Ah, that was a cracking chance passed up! Great ball inside the full-back by Steven Whittaker to his Rangers team-mate Steven Naismith, he put the ball the box about 12 yards out, but Scott Brown totally mis-hit - in fact he more-or-less swiped at fresh air!

1921: "For me that was an early yellow card for that tackle by Skerla on Robson." BBC 1 Scotland pundit John Robertson

1920: OUCH! Former Dunfermline man Andrius Skerla boots Barry Robson about a metre up in the air.

1919: Not much doing in the opening few minutes. A cagey start seems to be the norm these days in the international game.

1917: Just a reminder for TV viewers that BBC 1 Scotland has live coverage of the match.

1916: That's the ball rolling in Euro 2012 qualifying. Literally. And I mean 'literally'.

1913: That's the anthems out of the way... a truncated Flower of Scotland (continued by the Tartan Army of course) and a very operatic offering from the hosts.

1910: Only five minutes to kick-off in Kaunas. Teams are coming out on to the pitch. Nervous? Excited? Both? Yep...

1907: "I think we're entitled to expect three points tonight - but a play-off is the best we can hope for" says BBC Scotland's Chick Young. And with Spain in the group, who could argue with that last bit?

1904: There is one other game in Scotland's Group I - Tiny Liechtenstein host the world champions Spain. We'll keep you up to date on how things go there too. Czech Republic is the other team in Scotland's section. They're not in action this evening.


1900: Scotland have a decent record against tonight's opponents... W4, L1, D1. The last meeting in Kaunas was four years ago, with Kenny Miller and Christian Dailly on the score-sheet as Scotland won 2-1. A repeat of that score would do fine, thanks.

1857: So only three players survive from the Scots' team which lost 3-0 to Sweden last month: Allan McGregor, Darren Fletcher and Barry Robson.

LITHUANIA TEAM: Karcemarskas, Stankevicius, Skerla, Radavicius, Kijanskas, Semberas, Panka, Edgaras Cesnauskis, Mikoliunas, Danilevicius, Sernas. Subs: Arlauskis, Poskus, Pilibaitis, Luksa, Ivaskevicius, Beniusis, Dedura.

SCOTLAND TEAM IN FULL: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, Darren Fletcher, McCulloch, Brown, Robson, Miller, Naismith. Subs: Marshall, Berra, Boyd, McFadden, Hartley, Morrison, Dorrans.

My Sport
From Bus Stop Chicane on My Sport: "It'll be a tough game. I think if we lose an early goal like we did 2 years ago it will be very difficult to recover."

1848: "Craig Levein is going quite adventurous because he's gone with two full-backs in Hutton and Whittaker who love to get forward." BBC Scotland's Gordon Smith is the ying to Jim Traynor's yang.

1846: "If there's any pace around David Weir there's going to be a problem. Stephen McManus is an ordinary player, and Alan Hutton hasn't played much at all." BBC Scotland's Jim Traynor on the defence - jolly as usual...

1844: Want to know what our crack pundits think?

1843: But here's what the Scotland boss has to say about his selection: "I've picked a team here first and foremost not to go behind like we did in Sweden. I have picked our most energetic midfield who can do things like the tracking back. But I have McFadden and Dorrans on the bench should we need them" Craig Levein tells Sportsound.

1840: You can tell us your thoughts on the team here on My Sport

SCOTLAND TEAM: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, McCulloch, Naismith, Brown, Fletcher, Robson, Miller

1835: We've known the Scottish starting line-up since last night - revealed FIRST on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme. But here's a wee reminder anyway...

1832: So another qualifying campaign is less than an hour away. Can this Scotland side get to the country's first major championships since France 98?

1830: Who on earth wants to be sat outside in the lovely late summer sunshine? Scotland are playing! So I'm quite happy indoors hunched over a TV and a PC thanksverymuch.




see also
Lithuania 0-0 Scotland
03 Sep 10 |  Scotland


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