Angus Gunn Under Fire: Should Pocognoli Drop Scotland’s Number One?

Scotland were well beaten at Hampden by Switzerland, and while Jack Hendry's red card didn't help, the conversation has quickly turned to Angus Gunn. The goalkeeper made two good saves on the night, but two of the three goals he conceded are the kind that Scotland's number ones of recent generations would have kept out. That's a problem.

Two Goals He'll Want Back

The first Swiss goal came from a free-kick just outside the box. With a man sent off, Scotland already needed a bit of luck, and they thought they'd got it when the original penalty award was overturned to a free-kick via VAR. Ricardo Rodriguez stepped up and smashed it to Gunn's side at shoulder height. It wasn't hit with blistering pace, and it was on the keeper's natural side. For a goalkeeper at international level, that should be saved. Gunn himself admitted he'll look back at it and try to do better.

The third goal was more powerful, struck cleanly by Zeki Amdouni, but it went through Gunn's hands and into the net. There'll be a debate about whether it was saveable, and we think it was. Former Scotland strikers who've faced keepers at this level know what a top goalkeeper does with that kind of shot. Gunn didn't do it.

The Problem Behind Him in the Pecking Order

Scotland Men have been spoiled for goalkeeping quality over the past two decades. Andy Goram, Jim Leighton, David Marshall, Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon gave Scotland a reliable last line for a very long time. Gordon was still in squads at 43. That's extraordinary longevity, but it also masked a growing issue. Who actually comes next?

The retired Gordon has been replaced in the squad by Scott Bain of Falkirk. That tells you a lot about the depth available right now. Gunn is the best option on paper, which is exactly why he keeps his place even after a shaky night. The competition isn't pushing him. There's no one battering the door down, as the saying goes, because most of the alternatives aren't playing regular first-team football at any meaningful level.

Pocognoli is unlikely to drop Gunn simply because the squad doesn't offer a convincing upgrade. That's not a ringing endorsement of the keeper. It's more of a structural problem Scotland Men need to address at development level over the coming years.

What This Means for the North Macedonia and Slovenia Fixtures

With games against North Macedonia on Saturday and Slovenia on Tuesday coming up, Scotland need points. These are winnable fixtures on paper, and Nations League position matters for seeding and future play-off routes. Scotland Men can't afford another soft performance at the back.

Gunn will almost certainly keep his place. The more interesting question for bettors is how Scotland's defensive shape holds up when they're at full strength. Against Switzerland, the red card changed everything early. Scotland were already a man down before the match had even settled into a rhythm. Against North Macedonia in particular, Scotland should be the stronger side across the pitch, and Gunn should face far less pressure.

If you're looking at clean sheet markets, Scotland keeping one against North Macedonia makes some appeal, but we'd want to see the confirmed lineup first. Slovenia will be a tougher ask, and that's the game where Gunn's distribution and command will matter more against a side that will likely press high and force mistakes.

Our Read on Gunn's Position

Gunn keeps his jersey. Not because Pocognoli is fully convinced, but because there's no realistic alternative who changes the picture. The more honest assessment is that Scotland Men are in a transitional moment in goal, and Gunn is the best they currently have, even if he isn't the commanding presence that Gordon or McGregor were in their prime.

For bettors, the key takeaway is this: don't back Scotland clean sheets blindly in this Nations League run. The goalkeeping situation adds uncertainty, especially if opponents get in behind early. Gunn can make good saves, as he showed twice against Switzerland, but he's also capable of contributing to goals conceded in a way that Scotland's recent history suggests should not be happening at this level.