Scotland’s defence falters while Slovenia’s attackers shine, Hendry rated poorly
Scotland fell 1-2 to Slovenia on 6 October 2026, a result that leaves their campaign in jeopardy and highlights a defensive frailty that opponents exploited throughout the match. The loss was underscored by a series of low player ratings, with particular focus on the back line and midfield contributions.
Defensive lapses and individual ratings
Jack Hendry earned a 4.5/10 rating after making key blocks from Cerin and Vipotnik and delivering the header that opened the scoring, but his performance slackened after the break, contributing to the equaliser and Slovenia’s second goal. Stephen Welsh received a 4/10, looking comfortable on the ball yet caught out positionally on several occasions, notably when defending chances for Cerin and Sturm, and was substituted for Hickey.
Andy Robertson was also rated 4/10; his early block on Vipotnik could not compensate for a diminished attacking threat compared with his display in North Macedonia. Lewis Ferguson matched Hendry’s 4.5/10, making an early tackle on Vipotnik but failing to stem the tide in the latter stages.
Robertson says Scotland were outrun after Slovenia’s second‑half strike
Midfield and attacking contributions
Billy Gilmour’s 4.5/10 reflected a solid first half before fatigue set in after the break, while Ben Gannon‑Doak’s 5/10 noted a strong opening‑half wing‑back display that faded later, prompting calls for improvement. Ryan Christie, rated 4/10, showed opportunism with the opening goal but otherwise offered little impact.
Oli McBurnie earned a 4.5/10; despite 20 caps, he received little service and struggled to influence the game, while Sebastien Pocognoli’s 3.5/10 highlighted a too‑late substitution and a side that failed to press as he desired, prompting criticism that he should have started.
Pocognoli says Scotland stay on track after Slovenia defeat
The match narrative also featured Slovenia defender Erik Janza, who was tackled by McBurnie, and Zan Karnicnik, who faced Robertson’s challenges at Hampden. Overall, the ratings paint a picture of a Scotland side that could not sustain its early promise, with defensive errors and waning midfield energy proving decisive.