Alex McLeish savoured the winning feeling for the first time since returning as national team boss with a morale-boosting victory in Budapest.
There was little to separate the sides on a bumpy surface at Groupama Arena, although Scotland spurned a great opportunity to take the lead six minutes before the break when skipper Charlie Mulgrew’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Scotland did make their breakthrough courtesy of West Brom’s Matt Phillips on 48 minutes, and were able to see out for the win which steps up preparations for the resumption of competitive action in September.
Hungary were low in confidence, ranked 50th in the world and on the receiving end of a 3-2 home loss to Kazakhstan on Friday, but nevertheless the triumph will do the confidence of McLeish and his new-look squad no harm.
McLeish rang the changes from the side that went down to Costa Rica on Friday. The absence of Scott McTominay, Matt Ritchie and Grant Hanley was enforced through injury, while Callum Paterson, Kevin McDonald, Tom Cairney and Oli McBurnie dropped to the bench. Jack Hendry, Stuart Armstrong, Callum McGregor, John McGinn, James Forrest and Phillips were drafted in, along with former Aberdeen player Ryan Fraser who made his first start for Scotland and impressed in a right wing back position. There was also a second successive start for Dons defender Scott McKenna.
Once again, it was a mixture of new and old as McLeish continued to experiment, with debuts for Hendry and substitute Barry Douglas. He would have been particularly pleased with the guile and energy brought to the midfield by McGregor and Armstrong.
Hungary began the game on the front foot. Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor was called into action after only three minutes when Hungary broke, with Adam Szalai releasing Balazs Dzsudzsak for a low effort that was held, before palming away a corner from the home skipper moments later.
Scotland’s first opportunity arrived on nine minutes when Phillips laid a long ball from debutant Hendry into the path of Forrest, but his 20-yard effort drifted wide of target. At the other end McGregor had to be on alert after 20 minutes to claw Dzsudzsak’s free kick around the post, as the hosts continued to enjoy the better play. Scotland struggled to engage their attacking players, but their performance improved as the first half went on.
Scotland’s big chance arrived on 39 minutes, with Fraser clumsily tripped just inside the box by Hungary defender Laszlo Kleinheisler. Mulgrew strode forward to take the spot kick and aimed for the Gulacsi’s left-hand corner, but the goalkeeper was alert to it. Hungary took a boost from the save and finished on top, with Andy Robertson clearing Richard Guzmics’ header off the line. A disappointing end to the first half, but McLeish could not have wished for a better start to the second. Fraser was once again the architect, receiving a pass from Forrest before delivering for striker Phillips to tuck past Gulacsi.
Hungary responded well, with McGregor making a fine save to palm Roland Varga’s strike over the bar on the hour mark. McLeish began to freshen things up, with Dons midfielders Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie among those introduced. Mulgrew’s night nearly went from bad to worse when his slip was pounced upon by attacker Szalai, but McGregor blocked the shot with his legs, but Scotland held on for the victory.
HUNGARY (4-4-1-1) – Gulacsi 6, Otigba 6, Fiola 6, Dzsudzak 6 (Nemeth 58), Szalai 6 (Bode 77), Lovrencsics 6, Kleinheisler 5 (Patkai 67), Pinter 5 (Szabo 46), Varga 6 (Nemanja 83), Guzmics 6, Hangya 5 (Elek 46). Subs not used – Lang, Nagy, Ugrai, Dibusz, Stieber, Eppel, Bese, Kovacsik, Botka.
SCOTLAND (3-5-2) – McGregor 7, Fraser 8 (Paterson 82), Robertson 6 (Douglas 66), Hendry 6, Mulgrew 5, McKenna 7, Armstrong 7 (McLean 70), McGinn 6, Phillips 7 (McBurnie 83), McGregor 8 (Cummings 90), Forrest 6 (Christie 77). Subs not used – Archer, Christie, McDonald, Murphy, McLaughlin, Cairney.
Referee – Harald Lechner (Austria) 5
Man of the match – Ryan Fraser
