Albania 0-4 Scotland
Nations League 2018-2019
Group Stages
Sat 17th November 2018
20:45 (19:45 UK)
Loro Borici Stadium, Shkoder (A)
Att: 8,632
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)
Fraser(14)
S Fletcher(pen 45+2)
Forrest(55, 67)
Christie(14, 55)
Fraser(67)
A McGregor
C Paterson
D Bates
S McKenna
A Robertson(C)
S Armstrong (S McTominay 61)
J Forrest
R Christie
C McGregor
R Fraser (J Russell 72)
S Fletcher (M Phillips 68)
Manager:
Alex McLeish
FIFA Ranking: 40
Mavraj(22)
M Wolfli
M Mavraj(C)
B Djimsiti (K Dermaku 52)
F Veseli
E Binaku
L Memushaj
T Xhaka
E Kace (A Ismajli 27)
M Uzuni
E Grezda
R Manaj (B Balaj 62)
Manager:
Christian Panucci
FIFA Ranking: 60
Key: Goals Assists Missed Penalty Red Card
| 1 | Allan McGregor (Rangers) | (41 Caps) | Age: 36 | ||
| 2 | Callum Paterson (Cardiff City) |  |
(10 Caps) | Age: 24 | |
| 3 | Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) Captain | (27 Caps) | Age: 24 | ||
| 4 | David Bates (Hamburg) | |
(1 Cap) | Age: 22 | |
| 5 | Scott McKenna (Aberdeen) | |
(7 Caps) | Age: 22 | |
| 6 | Callum McGregor (Celtic) | (8 Caps) | Age: 25 | ||
| 7 | James Forrest (Celtic) |
 |
(25 Caps) | Age: 27 | |
| 8 | Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) | (10 Caps) | Age: 26 | ||
| 9 | Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) |
|
(32 Caps) | Age: 31 | |
| 10 | Ryan Christie (Celtic) | (4 Caps) | Age: 23 | ||
| 11 | Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) |
|
(5 Caps) | Age: 24 | |
| 17 | Scott McTominay (Manchester Utd) | (4 Caps) | Age: 21 | ||
| (Replaced Stuart Armstrong 61 min) | |||||
| 18 | Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) | (13 Caps) | Age: 27 | ||
| (Replaced Steven Fletcher 68 min) | |||||
| 20 | Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City) | |
(9 Caps) | Age: 28 | |
| (Replaced Ryan Fraser 72 min) | |||||
Yellow Card  Red Card  Double Booking Goals Scored Assist  Penalty Save |
|||||
8 Stuart Armstrong
Nations League 2018-2019
Group Stages
Sat 17th November 2018
20:45 (19:45 UK)
Loro Borici Stadium, Shkoder (A)
Att: 8,632
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)
Nations League 2018-2019
Group Stages
Sat 17th November 2018
20:45 (19:45 UK)
Loro Borici Stadium, Shkoder (A)
Att: 8,632
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)
In the run up to the final round of games, the pressure was mounting on McLeish. Along with injuries to Griffiths and Naismith, another 9 players, including Kieran Tierney, withdrew from the squad. This lead to questions about McLeish's relationship with the players. Ryan Fraser, who was bang on form in the Premiership, played from the start. This payed off as after 14 minutes, he cut in from the left before hitting a low curling shot past the keeper to put Scotland 1-0 up. Seven minutes later, Albania were reduced to 10 men after their captain was sent off for headbutting Ryan Christie. Just before half-time Scotland were awarded a penalty after a free kick by Armstrong came off the hand of a player in the wall. Up stepped Steven Fletcher to send the keeper the wrong way and put Scotland 2-0 up at the break. Ten minutes into the second half, Ryan Christie played a great through ball to James Forrest. The keeper got a hand to his shot but couldn't keep it out, as Forrest scored his first goal for Scotland and made it 3-0. Just after the hour mark Scotland had the ball in the net again, but Forrest's shot was deflected in by David Bates, who was offside. 5 minutes later, Fraser made a great run down the wing and passed to Forrest in the box, who flicked it past the defender and volleyed in Scotland's fourth. With 12 minutes remaining substitute Scott McTominay almost got a 5th, but his shot hit the bar. The game ended 4-0 meaning Scotland would avoid relegation, and needed victory over Israel to win the group.