Sport

Scotland earn place in play-offs

John Collins' first goal of the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign ensured Scotland's passage into the play-offs last night, but they…

Wed Oct 06 1999 - 01:00

John Collins' first goal of the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign ensured Scotland's passage into the play-offs last night, but they made the Tartan Army sweat at Ibrox.

Everton midfielder Collins struck in the 26th minute from the penalty spot after David Hopkin had been bowled over. But the next 66 minutes were all about hard graft, rather than good football. Now Scotland go forward to the draw next Wednesday in Aachen, Germany.

The road to Holland and Belgium next year has opened up but Scotland boss Brown knows this was a far from satisfactory performance despite the result.

Bosnia, still with an outside chance of making the play-offs themselves, began to dominate in the early stages with Scotland uneasy.

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However, Scotland made the breakthrough against the run of play after 26 minutes thanks to David Hopkin flexing his muscles. The Leeds star barged his way into the penalty area as Craig Burley played the ball in.

Hopkin was bundled over by Sergej Barbarez and Swedish referee Leif Sundell awarded a spot kick even though Gallacher appeared to be in an offside position.

John Collins slotted the spot kick into the corner for the first goal in the qualifying campaign and his 12th in 56 international appearances.

The Bosnians responded well and could have sewn matters up in the last six minutes when they carved open the home defence. Baljic beat Sullivan with a curling shot from the edge of the area only for the ball to come back off the top of the bar. Then Elvir Bolic headed narrowly over the top after Bakir Besirevic had played the ball in from the left.

SCOTLAND: Sullivan, Davidson, Hopkin, Dailly, Hendry (Calderwood 37), Weir, Collins, Lambert, Burley, Dodds (McSwegan 90), Gallacher (Burchill 79). Subs not used: Gould, Ritchie, Cameron, Durrant. Booked: Hopkin. Goals: Collins 26 pen.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Guso, Kapetanovic, Besirevic, Hujdorovoc, Varesanovic, Barbarez, Ihtijarevic (Topic 77), Sabic, Bolic, Mujcin (Avdic 84), Baljic. Subs not used: Joldic, Cahtarevic, Becirevic. Booked: Barbarez.

Referee: A Courtoise (Belgium).