Lithuania 0 Scotland 0:CRAIG LEVEIN had publicly claimed before a ball was kicked here that a Scotland draw, or defeat "wouldn't be the end of the world".
The reality, in basic football terms, was surely different. In a qualifying group which also features Spain and the Czech Republic and barring freak results, Scotland needed to claim six points against Lithuania to harbour any legitimate hope of progressing to Euro 2012. Levein won’t admit it, but this represented a damaging start.
That is furthermore the case given Scotland’s domination in Kaunas, particularly during the second half. For the remainder of Levein’s tenure, however long that is, he is unlikely to see his team enjoy as much possession away from home as they did here.
Even the introduction of James McFadden, the pin-up boy of the Scotland support whom Levein had bravely left out from the start, could not prompt a winner.
Lichtenstein’s visit to Hampden Park should be nothing other than a stroll for the Scots, even if frustrations will remain over an inability to convert sustained periods of pressure into goals.
Stockholm, Cardiff, Oslo, Skopje and Amsterdam are among the cities Scotland have visited in the recent past. Victory has not been forthcoming in any of them. The continued faith of the Tartan Army, 3,000 of whom made the journey last night, is partly baffling.
Scotland’s opening was brisk. Two bookings for members of Lithuania’s back four, issued within 20 minutes, illustrated their combative response. Yet it was the hosts who created the first meaningful chance, Allan McGregor forced into a fine stop from a Saulius Mikoliunas shot.
McGregor’s opposite number, Zydrunas Karcemarskas, was similarly smart in clawing away two long-range efforts from Barry Robson. Stephen McManus also volleyed narrowly wide, having collected a Darren Fletcher free-kick.
Levein had banked on experience to improve ailing fortunes. David Weir – at 40, three years older than Lithuania’s manager – and Lee McCulloch had returned.
Youthfulness and pace was to be supplied by Steven Naismith, who was indeed lively enough during the first-half. Alan Hutton, having made a semi-miraculous recovery from groin surgery, offered further attacking presence with marauding runs from full back.
There was an anxious moment for Scotland as half-time approached, though, Mikoliunas falling – readily – inside their penalty area under a challenge from Scott Brown. The referee Cuneyt Cakir waved away spot-kick claims, but only after a pause.
Robson’s cross to the unmarked Kenny Miller moments after the restart afforded Scotland their first clear-cut opportunity. The Rangers striker, who has opened the SPL season in terrific form, should have done better than supply a tame header.
The appearance of Kris Boyd and McFadden, warming up on the track, suggested Levein was perplexed by Scotland’s bluntness.
Naismith was the next Scot to be foiled, shooting again straight at Karcemarskas while under no pressure, in another example of wastefulness.
If it was clear from long before time that Lithuania would be the grateful recipients of a point. Scotland’s desperation grew, but that rarely triggers the composure needed to prise open teams. McFadden, thrown on for the closing 20 minutes, toiled, Miller watched another header sail over the crossbar and Levein stood motionless.
LITHUANIA: Karcemarskas, Stankevicius, Skerla, Radavicius, Kijanskas, Semberas, Panka, Edgaras Cesnauskis, Mikoliunas, Danilevicius, Sernas. Subs: Poskus for Mikoliunas (70 mins), Luksa for Sernas (79 mins), Ivaskevicius for Danilevicius (89 mins). Subs Not Used: Arlauskis, Pilibaitis, Beniusis, Dedura. Booked: Kijanskas, Radavicius, Skerla, Ivaskevicius.
SCOTLAND: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, Darren Fletcher, McCulloch, Brown, Robson, Miller, Naismith. Subs: McFadden for Robson (69 mins), Morrison for Brown (75 mins), Berra for Whittaker (90 mins). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Boyd, Hartley, Dorrans. Booked: Brown, McCulloch.
Referee: C Cakir (Turkey).
