Scotland were well beaten by Switzerland in their second Nations League match at Hampden, going down 3-0 on an evening that was Sebastian Pocognoli’s first home game in charge.
The contest turned almost immediately. Jack Hendry was roasted for pace by Dan Ndoye and clumsily brought the striker down, earning a deserved red card in the 11th minute and leaving Scotland to play the vast majority of the game with 10 men. Kieron Bowie was sacrificed two minutes later, with Stephen Welsh brought on to shore up the defence.
Switzerland’s opening goal came from Ricardo Rodriguez, whose powerful free-kick beat Angus Gunn on his side of the goal. Ndoye was involved again in the second, providing the cross that Nico Elvedi converted, before Zeki Amdouni added a third that beat Gunn by power once more. Gunn had produced good saves either side of half-time to deny Ndoye, but was beaten twice more.
Oli McBurnie emerged as Scotland’s best performer on the night, rated 7 for battling impressively as a lone striker after Bowie’s early departure and for causing problems for the Swiss defence. Scott McKenna was given a 6, dealing with most of what came his way even though the majority of the Swiss threat arrived from wide areas. Captain Andy Robertson also received a 6 on his 99th Scotland appearance, his usual willingness to get up and down the left flank yielding little reward.
Hendry’s 2 was the lowest mark of the side, with Gunn rated 4. Luis Binks, whose first act was a rash late tackle, was slow to close down Ndoye and prevent the cross for Switzerland’s second goal, but otherwise did not look out of place and was rated 5. Nathan Patterson had his hands full with the pacy Ndoye down Switzerland’s left and struggled to make any impression as an attacking force, also earning a 5.
Scotland’s midfield found the night difficult throughout. Lewis Ferguson made a few timely interventions on the edge of his own box but saw little of the ball as the Swiss midfield took firm control. Billy Gilmour looked the most likely to make something happen in the early stages but faded and was hooked before the hour mark, while John McGinn struggled to influence the game in the way he can. Ferguson, Gilmour, McGinn and Bowie were each rated 5.
Welsh, introduced to steady the defence, was rated 6 for playing his part in settling the side before Switzerland doubled their lead. Ryan Christie, Ben Gannon-Doak and Robbie Ure all came on in the 59th minute but made little impression, Ure getting no service to work with and Gannon-Doak spending most of his time chasing back towards his own goal, while Josh Doig was introduced in the 74th minute with the Swiss having all but killed off the game. All four substitutes were rated 5.
Pocognoli is still awaiting a first goal as Scotland manager after the defeat.