Man By Man

Mar 29 2009 By Gordon Waddell

ALLAN McGREGOR 6

A SOUND choice by Burley, the Rangers keeper was a bit too cool in chesting down first shot he had to deal with on the line. Spread himself well to deny Robben but left exposed at opener a minute later and helpless for No.2. Made couple of decent stops after the break.

GRAHAM ALEXANDER 6

MOVED into midfield by Burnley because of his waning pace the 37-year-old was back at full-back against the speedy Robben and van Persie. Never embarrassed but wasn't entirely convincing either. Hutton replaced him with 17 minutes left and will surely take the shirt on Wednesday.

CHRISTOPHE BERRA 6

A HUGE ask for a player with just 34 minutes' football in dark blue over three caps but let no-one down. Kept things simple early and took his touches but was dealt a harsh lesson when he dived into a challenge on Huntelaar and paid price by conceding penalty that killed it.

GARY CALDWELL 6

TALKED, tackled and covered well most of the night but left with two players to cover at the first goal and let both get the better of him over his left shoulder. Nursed Berra through first start and read the movement of the orange shirts pretty well. Nothing wrong with his goal either.

GARY NAYSMITH 5

HAD hell of a job stifling the pace of the Dutch and could have done with help after being outnumbered on his side for the first goal. Was skinned more than once but knew he and Alexander would be targets. The 45-capper will have easier games on his way to hall of fame.

GARY TEALE 5

BACK in the fold a year on from his last cap the Derby star knew he'd have a shift to do to protect the full-back - but never got the ball down to help his man get forward. Another who found the gap between the Championship and World Cup a big one to bridge. Subbed late on.

DARREN FLETCHER 5

AS a Man United mainstay, has the weight of expectation on himas the class in our side but struggled to show it in attack. The midfield had a tough job but there was no killer pass like the last time we beat the Dutch. Left van Persie free as he started his run for second goal.

BARRY FERGUSON 6

THE captain has been under fire at club level since his comeback and this was never going to be easy. He and Fletcher were supposed to be the creative spark but with little to aim at was on to plums all night. As ever, though, never hid but didn't have the ball the way he likes.

SCOTT BROWN 7

DEPLOYED as the holder in a 4-1-4-1 the Celtic star showed his discipline is growing by the game. Solid show on the defensive side but a bit too anxious with his distribution early on, giving the ball away with a couple of aimless exocets up the park. Gutsy show.

ROSS McCORMACK 5

CLEARLY Burley hoped the 22-year-old would be the X-factor and he earned his first start wide on the right and was not overawed. But 18 Championship goals for Cardiff this season is different from this stage and despite being confident with the ball he never hurt the Dutch.

KENNY MILLER 6

HE has ploughed this lone furrow before for Scotland. He knows the chances don't flow thick and fast so when you get the one he did in 12 minutes you need to do better than take four touches before you pull the trigger. Still, stuck gamely to his task until replaced by Fletcher.

SUBS

ALAN HUTTON (4) - Came on in 73 minutes for some vital match practice ahead of Wednesday's Iceland showdown which he is sure to start. JAMES MORRISON (3) - Took over from winger Teale five minutes from time and ran his heart out. STEVEN FLETCHER (4) - Handed lone strike role in place of Miller but got no joy from Dutch defence. NOT USED: Gordon, Barr, Iwelumo, Rae.