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Serbia national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Mar 26, 2013 at 7.30pm UK
 
Scotland national football team

2-0

Live Commentary: Serbia 2-0 Scotland - as it happened

Read our minute-by-minute updates of yet another World Cup qualifying defeat for Scotland in Serbia.
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Scotland travelled to a snowy Serbia on Tuesday in search of their first win of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Gordon Strachan's men couldn't pick up that elusiv three points though as Serbia scored twice in quick succession after the break to grab the points and leave Scotland rooted to the bottom of Group A.

Read how the match unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Evening all! Tonight's match had been thrown into massive doubt after heavy snowfall overnight in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, but it has just been confirmed in the last few minutes that the game WILL go ahead.

That's largely thanks to the hard work of supporters from both countries who turned out today to help clear heaps of snow from the pitch at the Stadion Karadorde. Click here to read more.

Anyway, now that we know that the game is 100% going ahead. Let's take a look at the teams the two managers have selected...

SCOTLAND XI: Marshall; Hutton, Caldwell, Hanley, Whittaker; McArthur, Boyd, Bridcutt, Maloney; Rhodes, Naismith

Plenty of changes from Gordon Strachan to the side that collapsed against Wales on Friday then. Steven Fletcher picked up an injury early on in that game and hasn't made it tonight. That allows Jordan Rhodes a starting berth up front and he'll be supported by Steven Naismith and Shaun Maloney.

There's also an international debuts for Hull City midfielder George Boyd and Brighton's Liam Bridcutt.

Tonight's match is a huge chance for Blackburn's Rhodes. He has managed just 36 minutes in three appearances off the bench for Scotland in this qualifying campaign despite consistently banging the goals in for Rovers.

The Scottish FA have just tweeted a picture of a snow-free pitch in Novi Sad and said: "Pitch is heavy but snow-free here in Novi Sad as we wait for #Scotland and #Serbia teams to warm-up."

REFEREE WATCH: Tonight's officials are from Hungary and the man in charge is Istvan Vad.

Check out the in-play odds with William Hill

I'm yet to learn the Serbian starting lineup but will bring it to you as soon as I hear.

Let's quickly check in with how things stand in Group A at the moment:

1. Belgium 13pts
2. Croatia 13pts
3. Wales 6pts
4. Serbia 4pts
5. Macedonia 4pts
6. Scotland 2pts

The two points Scotland have accrued came in the first two matches of the campaign at home to first Serbia and then Macedonia. When tonight's two sides last met at Hampden in September it was a goalless draw. Back then the Scots had Craig Levein at the helm but he's since been replaced by Strachan, whose competitive reign didn't get off to the best of starts on Friday when Wales came to Glasgow and completed a qualifying double.

It was a sense of deja vu for Scotland on Friday as they lost in very similar fashion to how they did in Cardiff by throwing away a 1-0 half-time lead.

Serbia also played on Friday at bitter rivals Croatia and came away empty-handed with a 2-0 defeat which took Croatia joint-top of the group with Belgium. Those two seem to have already tied up Group A so the other teams are now simply playing for FIFA ranking points and pride.

BBC Scotland's Alasdair Lamont reports that Gordon Strachan has told fans not to expect free-flowing football on a very boggy surface this evening.

SERBIA XI: Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Nastasic, Basta, Tomovic, Tosic, Fejsa, Milivojevic, Duricic, Tadic

You will recognise Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea and Matija Nastisic of Manchester City and may also recognise goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic who had a brief spell at Wigan.

Briefly away from our feature game, let me just point you in the direction of our other commentaries on a busy night of European World Cup qualification. Click here to find all our commentaries, including Wales vs. Croatia from this group as well as England's crucial trip to Montenegro and the huge France vs. Spain clash.

I will keep you updated with all the big goals as they go up and down and across the continent. Fear not.

Nervous about the result? Want to 'Cash in your bet'? See how with William Hill.

PREDICTION: With just under 10 minutes until kickoff, it's time for my thoughts on the match. As Strachan has stated, I'm not expecting a high-quality game and I really can't see Scotland taking anything from the match. They crumbled against Wales on Friday and a trip to brisk Serbia is hardly the place to gee them up.

Apologies but I believe that Serbia XI I posted earlier was the wrong one. It has now been updated so if you manually refresh this page you should be able to see the correct one. It includes Borussia Dortmund's athletic centre-back Neven Subotic and former Manchester United man Zoran Tosic.

Back to Novi Sad and the two teams are now out in the middle. That rendition of the Scottish national anthem will warm the cockles of the tartan army a little. Some of them are topless! Very brave.

Handshakes done, we're just about ready to go.

KICKOFF! Serbia, playing in red tops, blues shorts and white socks, get us underay.

Great start from the home side as they break into the Scotland box but can't carve out a meaningful chance. Scotland started awfully slowly against Wales on Friday and are doing it again!

Strachan's men are in their classic navy tops, white shorts and red socks, by the way.

Not sure the visitors have got into the opposing half yet as a pair of Serbian corners are just about dealt with.

Serbia are furious that referee Vad hasn't awarded them a free kick on the edge of the box as Boyd challenged Tosic but the little man went down very easily and maybe should have been booked for diving.

SHOT! Serbia's dominance continues as Basta lets fly from just outside the area. Marshall can't hold on to it but gets there ahead of Duricic.

Ivanovic does enjoy getting forward when he plays at right-back and he continues his run into the box and is picked out by Basta. He beats Cauldwell to the ball but can't get a decent head on it so Marshall watches it bobble wide.

Tomovic loses Hutton down the left and fires over a low cross that Tadic can't beat Whittaker to. Not sure Rhodes has had a touch yet.

Whittaker recklessly bundles into Tadic and Serbia have a free kick on the right touchline.

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It was played short before a poor cross came in and Subotic couldn't stretch to flick it goalwards. Scotland lump it down the other end and Rhodes finally holds it up well but doesn't get support quick enough and the chance of a counter is gone.

CHANCE! Lovely ball over the top from Nastasic for Duricic and he brings it down perfectly before turning away from Hanley. It looks like the young forward will have an easy chance to shoot but Hanley just gets back to put him off enough so that his shot is weak and Marshall can save.

Clever throw-in from Whittaker allows Maloney to turn and have his first run at the Serbia defence. The Wigan man opts to reverse it to Rhodes but horribly overhits the pass and it harmlessly rolls out of play.

Tosic turns Hutton inside-out before zipping over a wonderful cross that looks destined for Basta cutting in from the right but it's well cleared with the outside of his boot by Hanley.

YELLOW! First booking of the match for Tosic as he hacks down Rhodes after Nastasic had presented the Scotland forward with the ball.

UPDATE: Not a great start for Ireland as Austria go ahead in the Republic.

Serbia's number seven Tosic has been the liveliest player by far and he goes a couple of yards wide with a low shot from 20 yards as Serbia continue to dominate the ball.

Best moment of the match for Scotland (probably) as Hutton sends over a dangerous cross that Rhodes is nudged away from before Naismith just fails to get his toe to.

UPDATE: England take an early lead in Montenegro as Wayne Rooney, who had already hit the post, heads home a Steven Gerrard corner.

Scotland have begun to see a little more of the ball away from their own area as this time it's Whittaker and Boyd who link up well down the left before the latter's cross is blocked.

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UPDATE: Wales lead against Croatia! Gareth Bale (who else) scores from the spot to give the hosts a shock lead in Swansea.

Chance for Serbia to break quickly from a poor Whittaker free kick but Tosic can't find Duricic as his through-ball holds up on the boggy turf.

UPDATE: Ireland equalise against Austria as Stoke's Jonathan Walters converts a penalty.

Hanley goes in very strong on Tadic but takes the ball clean enough for referee Vad to correctly let it go. The Serbian forward stays down after the tackle before gingerly getting up. He'll be OK to continue.

HALF-TIME: Serbia 0-0 Scotland

We weren't expecting fireworks and sure enough it's been a dogged game of football from both sides. Serbia have looked the more dangerous but that's not to say that they have actually been that dangerous.

Elsewhere across the continent most games are still in the first half. Click here to see all the live scores.

Strachan would have bitten your hand off for a 0-0 before the game and that's clearly all he's after looking at these stats...

FIRST-HALF STATS:

Serbia
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Corners: 2
Fouls: 7

Scotland
Shots: 0
On target: 0
Corners: 0
Fouls: 5

As things stand in Group A, this is how the table looks:

1. Belgium 14pts
2. Croatia 13 pts
3. Wales 9pts
4. Serbia 5pts
5. Macedonia 5pts
6. Scotland 3pts

Acculmulator going well? Want to take your money now? Check out William Hill's 'CASH IN MY BET' service!

What stands out there is the position of Wales. If they can, somehow, hang on against Croatia then they still have fairly realistic ambitions of a top-two finish. Long way to go in Swansea, mind. You can join Barney Corkhill for that one by clicking here.

UPDATE: Ireland have turned it around against Austria as Jon Walters grabs his second of the night.

SCOTLAND SUB: Strachan has made a half-time change that sees Charlie Adam replace James McArthur.

Not a great start for Adam as he is fouled and stays down after taking a boot to the head. He looks a little shaken up but will be fine to carry on.

DISALLOWED! A cheer goes up from the Tartan Army as Naismith curls home a loose ball after Adam had deflected a clearance his way. Unfortunately for the visitors the Everton man was stood a long way offside.

SHOT! First meaningful effort of the half from Serbia as Fejsa has a pop from 25 yards. It's well struck and low but Marshall holds on down to his left.

YELLOWS! Adam's introduction to the match doesn't get any easier as he is shown a card for dissent after a handball. Moments later and Rhodes is also booked for needlessly trying to score after being whistled for offside. Silly boy.

Maloney does a step over to earn a yard from Ivanovic before swingning over a cross that Rhodes can't quite head home as Subotic defends well.

CHANCE! Oh what a chance for Rhodes. Subotic airkicks and the Blackburn striker decides to shoot early instead of driving at goal and hits it straight at Stojkovic.

GOAL! Serbia 1-0 Scotland (Duricic)

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Oh dear dear. Rhodes should have done far better at one end and the Scots are punished instantly. Slack defending allows Tosic plenty of room down the right and he cuts it back for Fejsa who seems to waste the chance by taking a touch and having his shot blocked. The loose ball falls for Duricic though and he has the simple task of swiping it home.

YELLOW! Nastasic is booked for a clear take-out on Adam. The Stoke man picks himself up to take the free kick on the right wing but that is a woeful delivery that barely reaches the wall. So poor.

GOAL! Serbia 2-0 Scotland (Duricic)

My oh my, Scotland do not help themselves. Serbia double their lead as Duricic bags probably the easiest brace of his career. For both goals there hasn't been a goalkeeper present as this time Marshall makes a save that simply presents Duricic with another open goal. It all stemmed from confusion between Caldwell and Marshall. Caldwell decided to clear the ball but gave it straight to a red shirt who drove at goal and drew the save from Marshall. Suicidal defending from the visitors.

Decent opening for the Scots as Rhodes slips in Boyd and he tries to round Stojkovic from a tight angle. The keeper does well to react to the Hull man's trickery and pushes it back to him. Boyd then looks for Rhodes with a pullback but the striker is crowded out in the area.

SERBIA SUB: The hosts make their first change as Tadic comes off for Dordevic.

Ferocious chanting from the home fans now that they have a healthy lead. Not a great start to Strachan's competitive reign and tonight's defeat will again be their own fault. Serbia haven't been that good.

YELLOW! Bridcutt is shown a booking for what might be deemed a clever foul on Duricic. He tripped the two-goal man as he was looking to break clear.

SCOTLAND SUBS: Strachan makes his second and third changes as Chris Burke replaces Maloney and Kenny Miller takes the place of Rhodes. A disappointing night for the later who spurned an excellent opportunity to give the visitors the lead seconds before Serbia scored the opener.

Scotland have a free kick right on the edge of the area as Nastasic lunges in on Adam. The Manchester City man is very lucky not to get a second yellow.

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It's right of centre and perfect for the left foot of Adam but he can't beat the wall as the ball balloons upwards and Stojkovic catches well.

UPDATE: Elsewhere in this group, Wales are still leading Croatia while Belgium have just taken the lead against Macedonia, who will be Scotland's closest rivals for the wooden spoon by the looks of things.

SERBIA SUB: The energetic Fejsa comes off for Petrovic.

YELLOW! Serbian stopper Stojkovic is cautioned for time wasting.

UPDATE: Spain take the lead just before the hour in Paris in that massive Group H clash.

Three minutes are added on in Novi Stad. Long trip home for the Tartan Army.

JUST WIDE! Strong run down the right from Basta and he cuts it back for the ever-running Ivanovic. The Chelsea man and Serbia captain slides it low towards the far corner but it just beats the right-hand post.

SERBIA SUB: Serbia's brightest player, Tosic, is taken off with pretty much no time remaining. Stevanovic his replacement.

FULL-TIME: Serbia 2-0 Scotland

Yep, that substitution is up there with the most pointless ever as referee Vad blows his whistle straight away! Another disappointing night for Scotland - they're still searching for a first win this campaign.

Nervous about the result? Want to 'Cash in your bet'? See how with William Hill.

After a goalless first half, the match was settled by two tap-ins within five minutes by Filip Duricic.

UPDATE: Goals going in elsewhere as Northern Ireland concede at home to Israel while Croatia have equalised against Wales.

That leaves the Group A table looking like this:

1. Belgium 16pts
2. Croatia 14 pts
3. Serbia 7pts
4. Wales 7pts
5. Macedonia 4pts
6. Scotland 2pts

Thanks for joining Sports Mole tonight. There's still plenty of matches going on across Europe so click here to find all our commentaries. Until next time, good night!

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