North Macedonia v Scotland: Back visitors to end winless run

North Macedonia short on goals and short on hope

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Saturday 3 October, 19:45
Live on BBC Two

These are tough times for North Macedonia, and their appearance at Euro 2020 seems like a lifetime ago. They haven't scored in any of their last six matches, and their last goal was in a 7-1 demolition at the hands of Wales in November.

In these Nations League games they have lost 3-0 at home to Switzerland and gone down 2-0 in Slovenia. Coach Goce Sedloski still has some goodwill, as he was the first North Macedonia player to win a hundred caps.

The hosts are without Boban Nikolov and Ezgjan Alioski because of injury.

Scotland desperate to end scoreless streak

Sebastien Pocognoli's home debut as Scotland boss could barely have been worse. Central defender Jack Hendry was dismissed in only the 11th minute, and the Tartan Army watched on in horror as their team slipped to a 3-0 defeat against Switzerland.

That means that Scotland have now gone four games without scoring, with Belgian tactician Pocognoli at the helm for the latter two of those. The former West Brom and Brighton defender insists he's not too concerned, with the rebuild that Scotland need seen as a long-term process. However, Scotland are just 25 scoreless minutes away from the worst goalless run in their history, and that isn't something the new boss wants laid at his door.

It's not an entirely gloomy picture. Spurs left-back Andy Robertson is set to win his 100th cap, which would put him just two caps shy of the all-time record holder Kenny Dalglish. Scott McTominay is still out after minor heart surgery, and strikers Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams have missed this set of fixtures because of injury.

North Macedonia v Scotland Bet Builder - McGinn foul involvements part of 7/52.40 treble

Although North Macedonia haven't lost back-to-back home games since 2019, you have to bear in mind that in a lot of that time they have played pretty limited opposition. Yes, they have held teams like England and Belgium to draws, but this team feels like it has taken a step backward since then.

While it may seem difficult to make a case for a Scotland win, the Switzerland game was a write-off because of the early red card, and I saw enough positive signs in the 0-0 draw in Slovenia to think Pocognoli can get his first victory here.

North Macedonia are on a really poor run of form. Neither team is scoring goals, so added to a Scotland win I'll throw in Under 3.5 Goals, and we'll wrap up by backing Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn to have 3+ foul involvements. That bet has paid out with room to spare in his two Scotland games under Pocognoli, and it has landed in four of his last five Premier League games.

That gives us a price of 7/52.40 on the Bet Builder.

Now read our other Nations League tips here!