Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill questions Scotland's tactical nous within the Nations League win over Eire - as he clashed with pundit Michael Stewart over the "threat and reward" technique.
It was one other large evening at Hampden for Steve Clarke as Scotland took management of their Nations League future and the path to Euro 2024 as they got here from behind to see off the guests. John Egan had handed Eire and early lead, however Jack Hendry 's header simply after the break and a late Ryan Christie penalty imply Clarke's males go into the ultimate sport with Ukraine prime of Group B1.
Regardless of watching Scotland declare the three factors, the previous Eire gaffer O'Neill was bullish on the full-time whistle and insisted the host ought to have been punished for the full-throttle assault and excessive press applied in entrance of the Tartan Military. O'Neill challenged Stewart over a remark he had made on Premier Sports activities commentary throughout the conflict.
He stated: "Michael you had been speaking in your commentary in regards to the threat and reward of Scotland enjoying so excessive up. Are you able to inform me what reward they may get out of that?"
Stewart wasn't having any of it on punditry. The previous Hearts and Hibs star sharply responded: "Properly, they've gained the sport."
Nonetheless, O'Neill wasn't happy with that response. He continued: 'Properly they have not gained the sport due to that. My thought is you might be enjoying very excessive up the road.
"When Eire will not be underneath stress, if I'm the Eire supervisor, I'm pondering we'll simply put it excessive. Eire now have a little bit of tempo within the staff, which I did not in my time (as supervisor).
"There was a few occasions within the second half the place they've actually pressed, and possibly ought to scored and gained the sport. I believed it was form of loopy, however I take your level."
Stewart fired again: "You take a look at the sport in opposition to Ukraine, they've actual tempo as properly and Scotland performed like that. That allowed them to attempt to press excessive up the park and play territorially in Ukraine's half.
"Eire did look harmful, however they're enjoying like that as a result of they've (Scott) McKenna and (Jack) Hendry who're athletic and pacy. Liverpool attempt to do it, and they're being punished in the mean time for it.
"However that's the means Steve Clarke is attempting to play the sport. I feel it offers one other dimension to the staff."
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