Scotland 1-2 Slovenia: Pocognoli still waiting for first Hampden win

Scotland lost 2-1 to Slovenia at Hampden Park on Tuesday night, 6 October, in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League. Ryan Christie put the home side ahead after 31 minutes, but Aljoša Matko equalised in the 56th minute and Danijel Sturm scored the winner in the 71st. The result means head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is still looking for his first victory at Hampden, and Scotland stay third in the group.

How did Slovenia turn the game round?

Scotland's goal came from a scramble. Jack Hendry's header struck the post, Oli McBurnie could not finish the rebound and Christie backheeled the ball over the line. The Scotsman reported that it was Christie's 11th goal for his country, on his 75th cap.

Slovenia took control after the break. Matko levelled with a left-footed shot from outside the area that went into the bottom corner, set up by Sturm. A quarter of an hour later the pair combined again: Matko squared the ball and Sturm finished from the centre of the box. In between, The Scotsman reported the first booing from the stands around the hour mark, after Sturm and Matko had both wasted openings to put Slovenia ahead.

ESPN's figures show Scotland had 54.2% of possession and six shots on target from 12 attempts, against three on target from ten for Slovenia. The attendance was 34,466.

What went wrong for Scotland?

The night began with a celebration of Andy Robertson's century of caps, with former manager Steve Clarke in the stadium, but it ended in frustration. McBurnie, who started up front, was substituted after 63 minutes and has now gone more than 1,000 minutes for Scotland without scoring, The Scotsman calculated.

Pocognoli admitted to Sky Sports that his side had not reached the level they expected either on or off the ball and that they had many things to improve. There were brighter moments late on from substitutes Josh McPake and Findlay Curtis, but by then Slovenia were in front.

Where does the defeat leave Scotland in Group B1?

This was the Belgian coach's first international window. Scotland won one of their four matches across the break: a goalless draw in Slovenia, a 3-0 home defeat by Switzerland, a 2-0 win in North Macedonia and Tuesday's loss. Sky Sports pointed out that a win would have lifted them to second.

When do Scotland play next?

The group finishes in November. Scotland host North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday 13 November (7.45pm) and then visit Switzerland at the Kybunpark in St Gallen on Monday 16 November (7.45pm UK time). Slovenia, three points ahead, face Switzerland at home and North Macedonia away in the same window.