Football: Roxburgh still defiant: Phil Shaw on the reduced options for the Scots after their debacle in Switzerland

EAT your heart out, Graham Taylor. Scotland had just lost their opening World Cup qualifier 3-1 to Switzerland in Berne, yet their 1,200 supporters stood in the rain and refused to leave until Andy Roxburgh came out to 'Gies a wave'. Roxburgh, however, would cheerfully trade his new-found popularity for two points next month when the Scots take on Portugal in the first of three successive Group One matches in Glasgow.

Putting it bluntly, as Roxburgh did yesterday, Scotland must beat the Portuguese at Ibrox on 14 October. All the more so in view of the fact that their visitors the following month are Italy, who sounded a warning to their five rivals by coming from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 in an away friendly at the same time as Scotland were disintegrating in Berne.

Richard Gough's dismissal, for catching the ball six minutes from time, was the final straw for Scotland on a night when the optimism they carried over from the European Championships was left looking like a cruel delusion. Scotland's captain will now be suspended for the visit of Portugal, when Roxburgh will also have to find a fresh defensive partner for Dave McPherson.

In the circumstances, with Scotland having caved in from a position of parity with 17 minutes left, the official line on Gough's sending-off sounded uncomfortably like clutching at straws. The ball had apparently struck a concealed water-sprinkler and reared up to catch Gough off guard. The tabloids in England would have had a field day had 'Turnip' Taylor offered such an explanation, regardless of its veracity.

'We played below our potential,' Roxburgh admitted. 'Having said that, the result flattered Switzerland. They scored their second goal at a time when they didn't look as if they had a hope in hell of winning. I thought they'd be lucky to get a draw.'

And if they lost the next match? 'That level of pessimism is something we don't entertain - you wouldn't go out of your door if you thought like that. As I've said before, when we've got realistic expectations, we play far better. In terms of preparing for Portugal, this defeat might even be good for us.'

The water-sprinkler might be a football first, but Roxburgh's defiant optimism has a familiar ring. With nine-tenths of the qualifying campaign to come, and a proven record of taking Scotland to the finals of major tournaments, it would be folly to doubt him.