Burley joins the chorus of disquiet over Vogts' failure

When it was all over bar the doubting, and the gleeful songs of the handful of Austrian fans had subsided, the most damning indictment of Scotland's latest morale-sapping defeat came from the inner sanctum. "We were very ordinary," admitted Craig Burley, the most capped player in Berti Vogts' side. "In fact, we weren't even that good."

Taken in isolation, Austria's 2-0 win in a Hampden Park friendly should not provoke press and punters alike into calls for Vogts' head. Even the report of Germany's spy, Klaus Sammer (father of Mattias), would have to qualify its doubtless damning verdict by noting that Scotland were missing their captain, vice-captain and first-choice goalkeeper, and had three men starting their first international.

But viewed in the context of 13 matches since Vogts succeeded Craig Brown as manager – nine of which have been lost and only three won, with New Zealand to come in Edinburgh on 27 May – Wednesday's débâcle against a country below Scotland in the Fifa rankings forms part of a pattern of perplexing selections, confused tactics and ignominious failures.

Burley, the captain for Brown's last game, had made his first appearance under Vogts after a long struggle with injury. In the circumstances, which include a possible call-up for the Euro 2004 qualifier against Germany in Glasgow on 7 June, the Derby midfielder might have been excused for trotting out the platitudes.

Instead, he encapsulated the disquiet of the 12,189 diehards who witnessed Scotland's supine performance. "Where we go from here is a question I'm sure we'll be getting asked," said Burley. "I want to be involved and get to the European Championships. But you do wonder where we go next.

"It's a learning curve and the management probably have to answer some questions. You're entitled to ask where we are going to improve. At times, the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.

"The first half was especially soul-destroying. We made it far too easy for Austria. I can't think of any positives."

Vogts shrugged off the suggestion that a sequence like Scotland's often brings the sack. "If you look at this defeat, you can say there has been no progress," said the German. "But if you look at the players, there has. The big discussion when I came was about getting youth in. Now look at (James) McFadden and the others."

This argument is unlikely to assuage many dissenters. McFadden, the 20-year-old Motherwell attacker, was at least combative. Other young players championed by Vogts, notably Lee Wilkie and Steven Thompson, looked seriously short of the required standard. The same, sadly, may be true of Paul Gallacher, the Dundee United goalkeeper, who gifted a goal to Austria just as he had to Hibernian days earlier.

Wilkie, Steven Pressley and Andrew Webster were seldom convincing as a defensive unit. Vogts' falling out with David Weir, who decided he could no longer work with him, increasingly resembles a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face. At a time of limited options, the Everton centre-back's experience and leadership qualities would have been important.

The same should have been true of Christian Dailly and Gary Naysmith against Austria. However, Vogts' penchant for square pegs in round holes saw Dailly, a right-footed defender who occasionally plays in midfield, deployed at left wing-back, and Naysmith, who does operate wide on the left, in central midfield. The results, like the overall match result, were all too predictable.

A repeat performance against Rudi Voller's team next month could undermine Scotland's chances of earning the Euro 2004 play-off place which still looks achievable, on paper if not on the pitch.

Tartan Trauma: How Scotland have fared under Berti Vogts

France 5 Scotland 0

27 March 2002, Paris, Friendly

Vogts' young side features the soon-discarded Crainey and Caldwell plus striker Freedman in midfield. Zidane, Vieira, Henry and co run riot.

Scotland 1 Nigeria 2

17 April 2002, Aberdeen, Friendly

Alexander, Stockdale, O'Connor, Williams, Stewart and McNaughton are all given first caps. Dailly's early goal is negated by Aghahowa's pair.

South Korea 4 Scotland 1

16 May 2002, Pusan, Friendly

The Koreans lead 3-0 before the Scots reply through Dobie's debut strike, but Ahn Ji-Hai hints at his World Cup potential with his second goal.

South Africa 2 Scotland 0

20 May 2002, Hong Kong, Friendly

Douglas becomes Vogts' No 1 keeper and the Scots fare better against a team preparing for the World Cup, the second goal coming in stoppage time.

Scotland 0 Denmark 1

21 August 2002, Glasgow, Friendly

Scotland concede quickly – which becomes a defining trait of the Vogts era – and rarely look capable of conjuring up an equaliser.

Faroe Islands 2 Scotland 2

7 September 2002, Toftir, Euro 2004 qualifier

Two early goals by a schoolteacher threaten Scotland's worst-ever humiliation before they rally for a point against part-time opponents.

Iceland 0 Scotland 2

12 October 2002, Reykjavik, Euro 2004 qualifier

For once Scotland seize the initiative with Dailly's header, finishing off their probable rivals as Group runners-up with Naysmith's stunning shot.

Scotland 3 Canada 1

15 October 2002, Edinburgh, Friendly

New shape and spirit seem to be developing as the Scots shrug off an early goal with a strong showing from Thompson and Crawford up front.

Portugal 2 Scotland 0

20 November 2002, Braga, Friendly

The Scots revert to leaking early goals, going two down after 18 minutes in heavy rain, although Douglas later saves a Figo penalty.

Scotland 0 Republic of Ireland 2

12 February 2003, Glasgow, Friendly

The scoring is over inside 17 minutes as the Irish, aided by the hapless Sullivan in Scotland's goal, launch Brian Kerr's reign with a win.

Scotland 2 Iceland 1

29 March 2003, Glasgow, Euro 2004 qualifier

Iceland dominate after drawing level early in the second half, but Wilkie escapes conceding a penalty and then heads Scotland's late winner.

Lithuania 1 Scotland 0

2 April 2003, Kaunas, Euro 2004 qualifier

This time Vogts feels wronged after losing to a dubious late penalty, Scotland having had the better of the game against rugged opponents.

Scotland 0 Austria 2

30 April 2003, Glasgow, Friendly

Yet another sluggish start, Austria scoring twice by the 33rd minute, as Vogts makes it 47 players capped in his 15 months and Scotland toil.