Bet on Craig Mackail-Smith to score goals

ASKED about the possibility of starting last night’s crucial match against Liechtenstein Craig Mackail-Smith replied: “I don’t think it would be a gamble at all. It’s obviously great to have experience out there, but the lads like myself who haven’t played as much have a point to prove.”

Just 32 minutes into the match – only 68 minutes into his fledgling Scotland career – he proved his point, underlining his own qualities and adding credence to Craig Levein’s team selection.

With Kenny Miller injured, the Brighton striker was given the No 9 shirt ahead of David Goodwillie and handed the responsibility of carving out or capitalising on chances which simply had to be taken. Liechtenstein had proven so tricky to break down at Hampden earlier in the campaign, Scotland having to wait until seven minutes into stoppage time at the end of that game to grab the winner. It was unlikely Tartan Army nerves could withstand another such climax.

Had it all gone wrong and the vital goals not come, the spotlight would have been thrust on Scotland manager Craig Levein. He knows his system, he knows the character in the squad and he knows the kind of plays which complement both. But had the Euro 2012 died on the turf of the Rheinpark Stadion, any hopes of resuscitation long-since extinguished, questions would have been asked about his decision to go with a Championship player who was foraging for goals in the Conference with Dagenham and Redbridge as recently as 2007, rather than build bridges with Steven Fletcher or turn a blind eye to off-field issues dogging the in-form Garry O’Connor.

But Mackail-Smith justified his inclusion. The hunger and the determination, the movement and the big-match mentality which have seen his status elevated at club level, and now on the international stage, were all evident from the outset.

A player who has earned his shot, coming up from the Conference via League One, where he scored 99 goals in 211 appearances for Peterborough United, the query has always been whether he could maintain that kind of scoring ratio at the higher level. Linked with EPL and SPL sides in the summer, he finally secured a £2.5 million move to Brighton and in the competitive Championship he has continued to average a goal every two games.

But international level, even against a lowly ranked side such as Liechtenstein, is something different. But he never believed he was a risky option. Neither did Levein. Having given Mackail-Smith, who qualifies for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born gran, his debut against Brazil – all three minutes of it – he then gave him another taster, again from the subs bench, against Denmark. The first start was due to come versus Lithuania, but injury stalled that. Last night was the moment, though, and he wasn’t going to waste it.

In the build up he talked about how at home he is in the lone striker role he already performs at club level, with Brighton. At ease with the required harrying and movement, the willingness to sit on the shoulder of defenders and wait for the support from the wings, he was the man best versed to fill in for the talismanic Miller. Giant boots to fill. While the English-born striker is too humble to even pretend to be a carbon copy, he is a decent imitation, and if he can score goals at a ratio of one per 70 minutes then people would stop worrying about how Scotland will fill the void left when Miller finally hangs up his boots.

That won’t be happening for a while and the fervent hope is that the vice-captain will be fit and ready to harass the Spaniards in Alicante on Tuesday; if he cannot make it the angst will not be too concentrated. In his first full start in a Scotland shirt, Mackail-Smith was perpetual motion. But it wasn’t the rushing around of a headless chicken, but the industry of a man with a will to win. He worked the home rearguard, he timed his runs more beautifully than the flag-happy assistant referee gave him credit for, chased in every shot in the hope something would drop and he found space, and gave his team-mates time to get up in support.

All that industry and closing down, his determination to defend from the front was a key part of his being selected, but the primary reason was illustrated in the 32nd minute. That was when the goal was scored and that was when the match was won. That was when Scottish Euro 2012 hopes were given a stay of execution.

As the cross came in from Phil Bardsley, Mackail-Smith perched on the shoulder of the defender, peeled off and darted between the centre-backs to meet the flighted ball in and send his looping header over the keeper and into the net.

“I give my heart and soul every time I go out on the pitch,” he said while stating his case for inclusion last week. “I want to be playing for Scotland and scoring goals that will hopefully keep us in with a chance of qualifying for the finals.”

In Vaduz he did that in what was an accomplished first international start. He stepped up and filled the boots of Miller, and his Scottish granny will be as proud as punch.

After his debut against Brazil he gave her his signed shirt. If this goal goes any way to taking Scotland to Poland and Ukraine the very least she will deserve is a bunch of flowers from an eternally grateful nation.