International Friendly, Pittodrie Stadium, 6/2/13

I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies. A win’s a win after all – and those were difficult to come by under Craig Levein.

The highlights didn’t look very exciting and a poor pitch didn’t help. The goal came from a set piece – which is how we’ll have to hope to score against the likes of Belgium and Croatia – and Allan McGregor saved the jerseys at one point.

Gordon Strachan’s mood music is brighter than Levein’s, he’ll most likely play in a more attacking style. The players might take heart from it.

It was only Estonia (no mugs, but also no great football power) but a clean sheet is always welcome.

We also have a few players in England’s top level, not something that could be said for a while.

It’s still going to be an uphill struggle to get a decent draw in the next European Championship.

Dead man walking, Craig Levein, has been punted as Scotland manager.

The only surprise was it took so long since the Belgium game.

However, as I said at the time, I doubt a change of manager will make much difference. I believe we would have ended up not bottom of our group (though not actually much higher.)

We are a small country on the periphery of Europe with no right to expect great things from our footballers. We are sadly at the moment in playing terms very impoverished. I can’t see a queue to take over forming.

To take one example Belgium has over twice as many people in its population as Scotland. They seem to have hit lucky with a set of good players all coming through at once. We can only wait for such riches.