Gilmour catalyst, impressive Welsh, but same issue for Scotland?

What the report says

Scotland’s first match under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli ended in a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia in Ljubljana, with BBC Sport Scotland highlighting a much stronger second-half display than a disjointed opening period. Pocognoli said his side were caught out early by Slovenia’s shape but improved after the break, when Scotland controlled the ball better and created several promising chances.

The BBC’s analysis pointed to Billy Gilmour as a key influence after half-time, describing the Napoli midfielder as the player who helped Scotland move forward more decisively. His deeper positioning in midfield, alongside Lewis Ferguson, was part of a tactical adjustment that made Scotland more compact and allowed them to progress play through the middle and into attacking areas.

Stephen Welsh, making his debut for Scotland, also drew praise for his front-foot defending and passing from the left side of a back three. His positioning helped Scotland deal better with Slovenia’s direct play and contributed to a more stable second half. The report noted that Wales-based? no, Scottish debutant? — along with returning striker Oli McBurnie and substitutes such as Kieron Bowie, Scotland showed more threat after the interval.

Despite those positives, finishing remained the main concern. McBurnie, debutant Robbie Ure and Bowie all had chances, but Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak denied Scotland. BBC Sport Scotland said the result underlined a familiar issue: Scotland’s difficulty in turning improved build-up play into goals, with just one scored in their last four competitive matches.