Peep peep! The referee blows after one second of added time. It’s been a tight, tense game so far, with Scotland probably just shading it. They certainly have the best player on the pitch; Billy Gilmour is also the youngest.
Both teams had one big chance. John Stones hit the post early on for England; Stephen O’Donnell drew a superb save from Jordan Pickford. “This can’t be doing Kane’s transfer fee any good,” says Paul Griffin. “Someone just easily ambled past him as he was chasing a ball. And he was a steward.”
Scotland keep the ball for over minute, with Gilmour involved all the while. I’m slightly in awe of this kid’s temperament, never mind his talent. Eventually Adams cracks a long-range shot that hits Mings and goes behind for a corner.
This isn’t news, but Billy Gilmour is a class act. He’s played two or three terrific passes, dozens of effective ones and is always offering to take the ball in tight areas. He’s 20 years old and this is his full international debut.
Fine save from Pickford! Brilliant play from Scotland. Robertson plays in the overlapping Tierney, who twists back inside James and floats a right-footed cross to the far post. O’Donnell waits and waits for it to drop and then cracks an excellent volley through the legs of Shaw. Pickford, who must see it late, gets down really smartly to his right to push it away, and Adams puts the rebound over the bar. It wasn’t much of a chance for Adams, because he had no reaction time. But it was a lovely strike from O’Donnell and an extremely good save.
The diving Kane heads wide from James’s cross. He was flagged offside after the event but I’m not sure he was. It was a difficult chance, with the ball zipping off the wet turf. Kane threw himself at the ball but it was always just too far in front for him to keep the header on target.
Steve Clarke must be pretty happy with how this is going, though he’d like Robertson and Tierney to be more involved in attack. It’s not dissimilar to the bitty first half when these two met at Euro 96. Maybe Jack Grealish will play Jamie Redknapp. But who will be Uri Geller?
Second half waiting…
