Brown hails Waseige's tactics

Billy Dodds' two goals had given Scotland hope

Craig Brown hailed his Belgian counterpart for the team changes that helped haul back Scotland's two-goal lead at Hampden Park.

The Scotland manager blamed poor marking by his defence for the goals that cancelled out a first-half Billy Dodds double and delivered a severe psychological blow.

But Brown also paid tribute to Robert Waseige's tactical genious while insisting that Scotland would bounce back to qualify for the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.

Although he agreed that it is a national habit to make it hard for themselves, Brown said: "We get there the Scottish way, but the Scottish way usually gets us there in the end."

Scotland had looked on their way to a three-point lead over the Belgians at the head of Europe's World Cup qualifying Group 6 when Dodds slotted home his second goal from the penalty spot as defender Eric Deflandre was sent to the dressing-room.

Persecution complex

Brown admitted: "I felt quite confident at half-time, but the Belgian coach made a couple of excellent substitutions that worked well for him."

The Scotland manager thought it might have been better had Colin Hendry's header gone in instead of striking Deflandre's hand.

Robert Waseige praised his team's mentality

"It happens so often that the team who are a man short get a persecution complex," he said.

"Their 10 men played like men possessed.

"They gambled when they had nothing to lose.

"Had the referee given a penalty against Daniel van Buyten when he bowled over Billy Dodds, it would have been a bad substitution.

"He goes on to head an equaliser and it's a good one."

Posted missing

Brown had been hailing the imposing Matt Elliott, Colin Hendry and David Weir as towers of strength before the match.

So he was especially disappointed to lose goals from penalty box headers.

When the second goal went in, it felt like a defeat

  Craig Brown

"I think our back three did well, but at the two goals they were posted missing," he complained.

"I am very, very disappointed as it is a major psychological blow.

"But, while Belgium leave elated, it might hopefully lead to complacency.

"If we had been told before the game that we would take a point, we would have not been too despondent as we are capable of winning in Brussels."

Mental toughness

Brown will now be looking for his side to go at least some way to matching Belgium's 10-1 thrashing of San Marino when the group's minnows visit Hampden on Wednesday.

"When the second goal went in, it felt like a defeat.

Now I think we are strong favourites to win the group

  Daniel Van Buyten

"But, with Belgium still having to go to Croatia and us still having to play in Belgium, a three-point lead after Wednesday will not look so bad."

Waseige praised the mental toughness of his team.

"I told my players at half time that everything can change if you get a goal back, but we had to be more daring," he revealed.

Most important result

"The game could have ended pretty badly after we went behind so quickly, because Scotland had a lot of chances so a draw is a good result for us.

"This is the most important result we have had so far in the group, but I think Croatia are still favourites."

Craig Brown says Scots can still qualify

Croatia defeated Latvia 4-1 to move to within three points of the Belgians and Scots with a game in hand.

Waseige also revealed that he had replaced Joos Valgaeren with Van Buyten because the Celtic defender had looked too nervous, both before and during the game.

The goal hero added: "If we had lost here, it would have been over for us.

"Now I think we are strong favourites to win the group."