NOBODY would be tempted to light bonfires in the street, but Scotland's scoreless draw with Austria in the opening match of their World Cup campaign was worthy of at least a mild celebration.

Manager Craig Brown himself answered the old conundrum of whether a draw should be regarded as a point won or two points lost. "As far as I'm concerned, it is two points lost by Austria," said the manager. "I wouldn't say that it will finish them, but it must make them begin to doubt their chances of qualifying."

Brown was once again concerned, however, by his team's ineffectiveness in the forward areas. In their last 15 competitive matches, the Scots have conceded only five goals. They tend to score, however, about as regularly as a goalkeeper.

Duncan Ferguson, the Everton striker about whom so much was expected, re discovered the difficulties of stepping up from club to international football. On only his sixth Scotland appearance, he was shackled by the towering Schottel.

Ferguson's inexperience in the international arena came into stark relief when set against the performances of old hands such as McAllister, McCall, Hendry, Calderwood and Collins. Their pacing of themselves and their control of the flow of the game left them looking much stronger at the finish.