Scotland were back at Pittodrie where Gordon Strachan started his Scotland managerial stint in 2014. Malky Mackay was in charge this time and Scotland lost tonight's friendly 1-0 friendly to Holland after Memphis Depay scored the winner. He looked offside as he put the ball in the net from close range following a counter-attack five minutes before the break. An experimental Scotland side were otherwise comfortable at the back and had plenty of encouraging moments going forward but lacked firepower. The match was overshadowed by SFA chief executive Stewart Regan confirming hours before kick-off that caretaker manager Mackay was definitely not a contender to succeed Strachan on a long-term basis. However, a number of players were staking their claim for ongoing involvement as the SFA performance director handed starting debuts to Ryan Jack, Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor and a second cap for Kenny McLean, while Jason Cummings earned an international introduction as a very late substitute. Memphis Depay scores (c)Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/PA Images There were also positional changes with left-back Kieran Tierney - who captained his country for the first time at the age of 20 - impressing in central defence after playing the final few games of Strachan's reign at right-back. Rangers midfielder Jack filled that role, where he played early in his Aberdeen career, while winger Matt Phillips started up front with McGregor not far behind. Mackay's plans had been affected by minor injury concerns which deprived him of Celtic trio Leigh Griffiths, Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong. |
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