A Scotland Lob Story | @AlexHTheMAX
David Marshall's scramble back and fail v Czech Republic at the Euros sadly isn't the first goalkeeping howler from a lob the Tartan Army have had to endure down the years. The myth of the dodgy Scottish goalie was sadly resurrected at Hampden on Monday, June 14th as a familiar self destruct sequence played out in Glasgow. Here are five Scottish lob stories compiled by Alex Horsburgh (@AlexHTheMax).
1. Nine Past Haffey
Celtic goalie Frank Haffey picked a Jimmy Greaves lob out of the net in 1961 at Wembley as England ran out 9-3 winners in the Home Internationals.
The Three Lions raced to a 3-0 lead, before Scotland fought back to 3-2 and then 4-3 to keep the hosts on their toes, before a runaway final period of the game saw England score five times and have what would have been a 10th goal ruled out for an infringement.
2. Calamity Kennedy
Stewart Kennedy of Rangers froze in the white hot atmosphere of an Auld Enemy clash in London in 1975 as he conceded five times in the worst Scotland defeat in their preferred local derby since '61.
The worst of the five goals lost on the day by the goalkeeper ,who would later play for lowly Forfar Athletic, came when Ipswich Town defender Kevin Beattie sent a speculative header towards Kennedy from a Kevin Keegan cross.
To quote commentator David Coleman on BBC live tv on the day: "Kennedy must have lost his geography as the ball looped over his head for 2-0."
The Gers goalkeeper was a pathetic site as he wrapped himself round the post as the ball hit the net and then he flopped to the ground seemingly pole-axed by the Wembley clanger.
Sheffield Utd goalie Jim Brown was stripped and ready to replace Kennedy but was then told to sit back on the bench by Scotland boss Willie Ormond as Kennedy was deemed fit enough to carry on.
3.Rough Justice
Into the 1980s and Alan Rough is rooted to the spot as Brazil lob him via Eder's brilliance in a 4-1 World Cup 1982 First Round group win in Spain.
David Narey famously rifled the Scots ahead in the game with a shot BBC tv pundit Jimmy Hill labelled a "toe poke" but a sweet strike from the Dundee Utd man would be surpassed by Eder's impudence as the Scots crumbled after Half Time.
"I think David upset them with his goal" Gordon Stachan would famously comment after the match.
4. Leighton Arrival
Even one of the best Scottish international goalkeepers of all time would succumb to a typical moment of Scots madness in an important match.
Scotland needed to win their final game in the First Round group v Morocco at World Cup France 1998 to go to the 2nd Round for the first time ever. However, after going down 1-0, Jim Leighton would make a hash of a Hadda lob just after HT and the ball arced beyond the 91 times capped Scotland great despite Leighton getting fingers on the ball.
It was all over for Scotland at that point and then their opponents would add insult to injury with a third for 3-0 FT which made for a harsh but sobering scoreline in the match from a Scottish point of view and sadly, once again, it was a Round 1 exit for the Tartan Army.
5. Hero to Zero
After pulling off a penalty save in the shoot out v Serbia for a memorable Euros qualification David Marshall rolled back the years to the days of Jimmy Greaves berating "Scotch goalies" as a tv pundit with a horror show for 2-0 Czech Republic on the 14th June.
Was Marshall truly switched off in the game and not concentrating or was he told to be a "sweeper keeper" by Steve Clarke in the game and so facing the inevitable risk of being caught out by following orders from the bench ?
Amazingly, the question was never asked by the Scottish media post match but Marshall joins the showreel of tartan comic cut moments as he was beaten by a 50 yard curler from Patrik Schick after a Scottish attack was charged down by a resolute visiting defence.
©The Football History Boys, 2021
1. Nine Past Haffey
Celtic goalie Frank Haffey picked a Jimmy Greaves lob out of the net in 1961 at Wembley as England ran out 9-3 winners in the Home Internationals.
The Three Lions raced to a 3-0 lead, before Scotland fought back to 3-2 and then 4-3 to keep the hosts on their toes, before a runaway final period of the game saw England score five times and have what would have been a 10th goal ruled out for an infringement.
2. Calamity Kennedy
Stewart Kennedy of Rangers froze in the white hot atmosphere of an Auld Enemy clash in London in 1975 as he conceded five times in the worst Scotland defeat in their preferred local derby since '61.
The worst of the five goals lost on the day by the goalkeeper ,who would later play for lowly Forfar Athletic, came when Ipswich Town defender Kevin Beattie sent a speculative header towards Kennedy from a Kevin Keegan cross.
To quote commentator David Coleman on BBC live tv on the day: "Kennedy must have lost his geography as the ball looped over his head for 2-0."
The Gers goalkeeper was a pathetic site as he wrapped himself round the post as the ball hit the net and then he flopped to the ground seemingly pole-axed by the Wembley clanger.
Sheffield Utd goalie Jim Brown was stripped and ready to replace Kennedy but was then told to sit back on the bench by Scotland boss Willie Ormond as Kennedy was deemed fit enough to carry on.
3.Rough Justice
Into the 1980s and Alan Rough is rooted to the spot as Brazil lob him via Eder's brilliance in a 4-1 World Cup 1982 First Round group win in Spain.
David Narey famously rifled the Scots ahead in the game with a shot BBC tv pundit Jimmy Hill labelled a "toe poke" but a sweet strike from the Dundee Utd man would be surpassed by Eder's impudence as the Scots crumbled after Half Time.
"I think David upset them with his goal" Gordon Stachan would famously comment after the match.
4. Leighton Arrival
Even one of the best Scottish international goalkeepers of all time would succumb to a typical moment of Scots madness in an important match.
Scotland needed to win their final game in the First Round group v Morocco at World Cup France 1998 to go to the 2nd Round for the first time ever. However, after going down 1-0, Jim Leighton would make a hash of a Hadda lob just after HT and the ball arced beyond the 91 times capped Scotland great despite Leighton getting fingers on the ball.
It was all over for Scotland at that point and then their opponents would add insult to injury with a third for 3-0 FT which made for a harsh but sobering scoreline in the match from a Scottish point of view and sadly, once again, it was a Round 1 exit for the Tartan Army.
5. Hero to Zero
Was Marshall truly switched off in the game and not concentrating or was he told to be a "sweeper keeper" by Steve Clarke in the game and so facing the inevitable risk of being caught out by following orders from the bench ?
Amazingly, the question was never asked by the Scottish media post match but Marshall joins the showreel of tartan comic cut moments as he was beaten by a 50 yard curler from Patrik Schick after a Scottish attack was charged down by a resolute visiting defence.
By Alex Horsburgh, written for @TFHBs
(All pictures borrowed and not owned in any form by TFHB)
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