Alan Martin breathed a sigh of relief, little suspecting that within a few hours the same overriding emotion would be shared by Craig Levein, the full Scotland squad, and an entire footballing nation.

Five million sweating Scots.

SPL chief Neil Doncaster “open-minded” about reintroducing terracing to Scotland’s top-flight grounds

And people wonder why Scotland’s life expectancy isn’t any higher.

Craig Levein breathed an enormous sigh of relief last night then admitted to having second thoughts about his tactics as Scotland scrambled a desperate injury-time winner against Liechtenstein.

Chris Maguire last night revelled in the last-minute wonder-goal which took Scotland’s Under-21 side into the 2011 European Championship play-offs then criticised Austria for acting as if it was they who had won the group after the last meeting between the teams.

THE build-up to the US Open was signalled by a veritable marching band of pundits loudly proclaiming Andy’s Murray’s readiness to win a major.

Maybe Kenny Miller will stick one past Peter Jehle after five minutes and the floodgates will open.

THERE is a certain chutzpah that emerges from the diminutive frame of Barry Bannan that indicates a willingness to get his hands dirty in trying circumstances.

Scotland have scored only once in three games under Levein so far and his decision to play only Kenny Miller as an out-and-out forward was questioned after Friday’s goalless opening tie in Lithuania.