Sébastien Pocognoli claimed his first win as Scotland head coach as Kieron Bowie and John McGinn earned a 2-0 Nations League victory away to North Macedonia in Skopje. Captain Andy Robertson marked his 100th cap on a night Scotland dominated before finishing with 10 men.
Bowie's first international goal after seven minutes and McGinn's 69th-minute penalty put Scotland level on four points with Slovenia in League B, Group 1. Switzerland beat Slovenia 2-1 elsewhere to stay top on nine.
Match facts
- Result: North Macedonia 0-2 Scotland (half-time 0-1)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League B, Group 1, Matchday 3
- Venue: Nacionalna Arena Toše Proeski, Skopje
- Scorers: Scotland - Bowie 7', McGinn 69' (pen)
- Red cards: McKenna (Scotland) 83'
- Next: Scotland v Slovenia, Tuesday 6 October, Hampden Park
How the match unfolded
Scotland started on the front foot at the Todor Proeski Arena. In the seventh minute Billy Gilmour slid the ball to Bowie on the edge of the box. The Sassuolo striker controlled it, shifted onto his left foot and drove a low shot across Stole Dimitrievski into the far corner for his first Scotland goal.
Robertson, celebrating his 100th appearance, had three chances inside the first 20 minutes. Dimitrievski clawed one over and Robertson dragged another wide. Ben Gannon-Doak was a constant threat on the right, and a dog briefly wandered onto the pitch as Scotland kept pouring forward.
After the break Gannon-Doak was denied when clean through, then thought he had won a penalty only for VAR to overturn the award. Scotland finally got their second when McKenna's header hit the bar, Bowie's follow-up struck Bojan Miovski's hand, and referee François Letexier pointed to the spot after a monitor check. McGinn sent Dimitrievski the wrong way in the 69th minute.
With seven minutes left McKenna won the ball but followed through on Gjorge Dzhekov and was shown a straight red. Scotland sat deeper through eight minutes of stoppage time and saw the win out. Luke Graham came on for his debut late on.
What it means
Pocognoli's side had drawn 0-0 in Slovenia and lost 3-0 at home to Switzerland with 10 men. This was their first Nations League win of the campaign and a first victory in three matches under the Belgian coach. Scotland stay third in the group on four points, level with Slovenia on points but behind on goal difference, with North Macedonia still bottom and pointless.
What happens next
Scotland host Slovenia at Hampden Park on Tuesday 6 October (19:45 UK). Switzerland, already on nine points, remain the team to catch at the top of Group 1.