Summary

  • Scotland's first Nations League fixture

  • Albania lead League C Group 1 after beating Israel

  • McGregor, O'Donnell, Naismith & Russell start for Scotland

  1. Postpublished at 47mins

    Scotland 1-0 Albania

    So close to Scotland handing Albania the equaliser.

    John Souttar is short with a back-pass and Bekim Balaj beats the outrushing Allan McGregor and, although he prods it past the goalkeeper, it slips wide of the post.

  2. Postpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 1-0 Albania

    Richard Winton
    BBC Sport

    Steven Naismith made the early movement - maybe a little too early - but his performance has deserved that goal.

  3. goal

    GOAL Scotland 1-0 Albaniapublished at 46mins

    Steven Naismith

    Stuart Armstrong is immediately involved as Scotland make a swift breakthrough.

    He plays the ball back into the path of Andy Robertson, whose high curling cross finds Steven Naismith at the back post.

    The forward had the ball in the net in the first half only to be caught offside and it looks like the flag should have gone up again this time.

    However, play goes on and Naismith's header clips off the head of defender Berat Xhimshiti and past goalkeeper thomas Strakosha.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Albania get the second half under way, their white shirts shining brightly in the Hampden floodlights.

  5. Change for Albaniapublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    HT: Scotalnd 0-0 Albania

    Albania are also making an alteration and Inter Zapresic defender Herdi Prenga is on for Yenisey Krasnoyarsk midfielder Enis Gavazaj.

    That suggests a change of shape - a more defensive one - from Christian Panucci.

  6. Armstrong replaces McDonaldpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    HT: Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Scotland are making a change and Stuart Armstrong replaces Kevin McDonald in midfield.

    Whether or not that is because of an injury, it is a positive move as the Southampton man is more attack minded.

  7. Sitter for Naismithpublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    HT: Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

    Quote Message

    It was a shocker of a miss from Naismith, but Scotland have beaten Albania up and they need to put them away

  8. goal

    Tale of the first halfpublished at 20:33

    HT: Scotland 0-0 Albania

    The statistics tell their own story of the opening 45 minutes.

    Albania coach Christian Panucci will be pleased to get his under-pressure side into the dressing-room unscathed.

    Half-time graphic
  9. More of the same from the Scotspublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Scotland need to keep the delivery of a high quality, maybe mix it up a little bit with the odd short one from time to time but keep them under pressure, keep testing them and asking questions of the Albanian defence

  10. HALF-TIME Scotland 0-0 Albaniapublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland have improved immensely since Friday's capitulation to Belgium and Alex McLeish appears to have got his formation spot on.

    They have dominated Albania, who have only rarely threatened - and so far haven't tested goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

    A performance full of intensity, skill and speed, but they have yet to make the breakthrough and a clinical finish yet eludes them.

    Steven Naismith's miss brings back memories of Chris Iwelumo's famous miss-kick in front of goal against Norway back in 2008 and hopefully it will not prove as crucial.

    Scotland head coach Alex McLeishImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Could this photo taken of Alex McLeish before kick-off prove prophetic?

  11. Postpublished at 42mins

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    As they have threatened, Albania break quickly on the Scots and Ledian Memushaj strides confidently from the half-way line to the edge of the penalty box.

    However, the Pescara midfielder stubbs his shot into the grass and it slides well wide.

  12. Albania struggling at the backpublished at 20:28 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Albania are struggling to build up any passages of play in a defensive area. They're doing a bit better in midfield, but their captain isn't any great shakes defensively or using the ball forward

  13. DISALLOWED GOALpublished at 40mins

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    What did I say about finding the net?

    The Scots do exactly that, right on cue. Only they also find the offside flag.

    Andy Robertson finds Callum McGregor inside the penalty box and the midfielder's neat clip into the path of Steven Naismith allows the forward to prod into the net.

    However, the forward was just in front of the final defender.

  14. Postpublished at 40mins

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Scotland are pressing Albania high and are harassing the visitors into mistakes.

    A little more composure in front of goal and Alex McLeish's side will surely make the breakthrough.

    But they have to be wary of a side who look like they can be dangerous on the break.

  15. Shot-shy Scots?published at 20:23 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Belgium

    Richard Winton
    BBC Sport at Hampden Park

    Scotland are being very deliberate in the final third, trying to thread little passes into the area. Nobody seems willing to take a shot at goal from the edge of the box though.

  16. Tentative from Robertsonpublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    You'd like to see Andy Robertson be a little bit more positive when he gets into these areas. He seems to want to take the touch and play it back. Just go and take it towards the byline, keep the pressure on. That's the only real fault so far

  17. Nai goal!published at 20:19 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Steven Naismith heads against the Albania postImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Steven Naismith missed a great chance to put Scotland ahead

  18. Home advantage?published at 20:17 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    The main issue with Hampden in the eyes of the supporters is the view from behind the goal. Not tonight, however...

    The absent fans are missing a cracking home performance that only lacks a goal.

    Hampden looking empty
  19. Postpublished at 28mins

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Kieran Tierney has been handed a centre-half role tonight, but the Celtic man decides to show what he can do at left-back, combining with Andy Robertson before whipping in a low cross that just slips through Steven Naismith's legs in front of goal off a defender.

  20. 'Scots lacking creativity'published at 20:14 British Summer Time 10 September 2018

    Scotland 0-0 Albania

    Richard Winton
    BBC Sport

    Plenty perspiration but not much inspiration from Scotland. Much of the game has been played in the Albania half, but it looks like set-pieces may be the most likely avenue to success for the Scots.