Football news - Portugal pile more misery on Scotland and Alex McLeish

Portugal piled yet more misery on Scotland and their under fire manager Alex McLeish, claiming a 3-1 friendly win despite resting many of their big names.

There was no Cristiano Ronaldo for the European champions at Hampden Park, with Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva and others also rested. Nonetheless, Portugal won this match at a canter adding to the sense of malaise that currently surrounds the Scotland team.

Scotland started well, but it was the visitors who took the lead just before half time when debutant Helder Costa got on the end of a cross, beating Andy Robertson to the ball on the slide. From then on, Portugal coasted, scoring twice more - once through Eder and another through Bruma, who fired into the top corner of the net following a counter.

Steven Naismith grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time, guiding a finish home after a neat backheel assist by Gary Mackay-Steven, but the damage had been done by then. More questions will be asked of McLeish after this.

Is the writing already on the wall for Alex McLeish? His appointment as Scotland manager wasn’t a popular one in the first place, but now the pressure is surely starting to get too much for McLeish. Thursday’s UEFA Nations League defeat to Israel felt like a watershed, with this defeat, albeit in a friendly setting, only adding to the sense of malaise that currently surrounds the Scotland team. This is a side that boasts talent, but is McLeish really the man to get the most of that talent? His critics are starting to mount.

Bruma (Portugal): In truth, the European champions played this match at something of a canter, but Bruma was the man who did the most damage to the Scottish defence, capping his performance with a goal with just six minutes left to play. The 23-year-old, who is attracting attention at RB Leipzig, was the man who drifted into the space left between the Scotland midfield and defence. He was the exactly the sort of player the hosts lacked.

Scotland: Gordon 6, O’Donnell 4, Robertson 5, Hendry 4, McKenna 5, McGinn 5, Forrest 6, Armstrong 6, McBurnie 5, Naismith 6, McGregor 6. Subs - McDonald 5, Shinnie 5, Mackay-Steven 6.

Portugal: Beto 6, Cedric 6, Dias 5, Neto 6, Rodrigues 5, Danilo 7, Oliveira 5, Fernandes 5, Bruma 7, Costa 7, Eder 6. Subs - Ramos 5, Mendes 5, Carvalho, Sanches 7, Fernandes.

14’ - NEARLY AN OWN GOAL! Scotland were very close to the lead there! Oliveira, for some reason, powered a header at his own goal from a Scottish cross. But Beto makes the reaction save!

26’ - BIG CHANCE! That might have been the opener for Portugal! Bruma anticipated a header from Hendry, pounced on a loose ball inside the box and fired a low shot just wide of the far post.

43’ - GOAL! Scotland 0-1 Portugal. Portugal have taken the lead! The cross from Rodrigues on the left wing was a good one and Costa got to the ball before Robertson to send a finish into the back of the net on the slide.

53’ - SHOULD SCORE! That was a big, big chance for Scotland to restore parity. McKenna was free from the corner kick, but sends his diving header from six yards out wide of the target.

73’ - GOAL! Scotland 0-2 Portugal. That should be that. The delivery from the freekick by Sanches was fantastic and Eder, who scored the winner in the final of the 2016 Euros, guides a header into the far corner of the Scotland net! Portugal surely out of sight now.

84’ - GOAL! Scotland 0-3 Portugal. What a goal that is from Bruma! The pass was played through with McKenna keeping everyone onside. Bruma dropped a shoulder, cut inside and fired a shot high into the top corner of Gordon's net! That was a lovely goal!

90+3’ - GOAL! Scotland 1-3 Portugal. Scotland have a consolation goal in stoppage time! A clever backheel from Mackay-Steven sets up Naismith, who makes no mistake in guiding a finish into the back of the net. Nice assist and finish from the home side!

Eder scored his first goal for Portugal since the final of the 2016 European Championships.