Scots earn draw as Brown walks

Brown was allowed to congratulate Gallacher afterwards

Croatia 1-1 Scotland

Kevin Gallacher's first international goal in three years saw Scotland come from behind in Zagreb to gain a well-deserved point in Croatia.

The result meant that Craig Brown's men retained their five-point lead over the Group Six favourites.

However, on a night of high passions, the Scotland manager was ordered to the stands for persistently arguing with officials.

The team paid tribute to Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar, who died on Wednesday, by wearing black armbands during the match.

A minutes's silence was observed

Indeed, they produced a battling performance that would have made their former leader proud.

Things had looked bleak early on for the Scots after Middlesborough's Alen Boksic put the rampant Croatians ahead after only 15 minutes.

However, Kevin Gallacher, with his first international goal in 18 matches, struck the equaliser nine minutes later and the Scots even had chances to record what would have been a famous victory.

Tough task

West Ham United's Davor Suker, as expected, was not even on the bench for Croatia and Bosko Balaban took his place beside Middlesbrough's Alen Boksic in the Croatian front line as their side made three changes from their 0-0 draw with Belgium.

Scotland, unbeaten in their last seven away matches, were expecting a tough task, especially due to their own catalogue of problems.

With defenders Christian Dailly and Jackie McNamara, winger Neil McCann and striker Billy Dodds unavailable, Allan Johnston was given a roving role up front beside Kevin Gallacher, while Tom Boyd was in the right wing-back area.

Hearts' Colin Cameron and Derby's Craig Burley, who himself was struggling with injury, found places in midfield and David Weir came in to partner Matt Elliott and Colin Hendry in defence.

Passing talents

Early on, Robert Prosinecki being given too much space to use his passing talents in midfield and the Scotland back three were under pressure almost from the moment the minute's silence was over.

Balaban lost Hendry at the back post but wasted a great opportunity by blasting into the side netting from 16 yards.

Brown remained vociferous in the stand

Then Daniel Saric galloped clear, but his cross come shot across the face of goal just missed Balaban coming in at the back post.

Boksic made the threatened breakthrough when he collected Saric's pass behind a square Scottish back three and stroked the ball past Neil Sullivan.

Scotland needed some inspiration and, as so often before, they found it from Hendry, who somehow found himself on the edge of the box and was unlucky not to win a free kick.

The equaliser after 24 minutes was one made in Tynecastle.

Hearts full-back Naysmith played the ball down the line and, although Cameron, Scotland's man-of-the-match was brought down as he went past Igor Stimac, he got to his feet and delivered a low cross that was side-footed home from 10 yards by Gallacher.

Own net

Minutes later, Zvonimir Soldo almost turned Gallagher's cross into his own net.

The Scots were on the verge of a superb result and, at half-time, Brown played safe by putting on Paul Dickov for Johnston, who had already been booked.

Croatia had made their own changes and substitute Biscan almost made an immediate impression with a powerful overhead kick from 15 yards, but Sullivan was well placed to gather comfortably.

Scotland should have gone ahead after 55 minutes when an accurate chip to the back post from Cameron found Hendry in the clear, but the defender headed into the side-netting from 10 yards.

Running clear

Prosinecki then came close for Croatia, his powerful right-foot drive from 20 yards striking the inside of the post before running clear.

The Scots, though, continued to be dangerous, Cameron breaking from his own half and delivering a superb crossfield ball that found Gallacher clear in the box.

Instead of shooting himself, he rolled into the path of Hutchison, but he skewed his shot just wide from 15 yards.

Elliott's last-ditch tackle turned the ball just wide of his own post, but the Scots held on for a result that puts them in a commanding position in their group.

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Croatia: Pavlovic, D. Simic, Stimac, R. Kovac, Saric, Soldo, Jarni, Prosinecki, N. Kovac, Balaban, Boksic.

Subs: Pletikosa, Zivkovic, Tudor, Cvitanovic, Jurcic, Biscan, Vugrenic.

Scotland: Sullivan, Weir, Elliott, Hendry, Boyd, Burley, Cameron, Hutchison, Naysmith, Gallacher, Johnston.

Subs: Gould, Ritchie, O'Neil, Pressley, Holt, Dickov, Burchill.

Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)