Sebastien Pocognoli’s first home match as Scotland manager ended in a 3-0 rout by Switzerland after Jack Hendry’s early red card left the hosts with 10 men for most of the Nations League encounter.
Hendry was dismissed in the eighth minute after pulling back Dan Ndoye as the Swiss forward raced through on goal. Referee Nenad Minakovic initially awarded a penalty and showed the Scotland defender a yellow card, but a VAR review established that the foul had taken place just outside the area.
Ricardo Rodriguez took the resulting free-kick and struck a powerful effort beyond Angus Gunn and into the bottom corner.
Pocognoli immediately reshaped his team, replacing Kieron Bowie with Stephen Welsh to preserve a three-man defence. Scotland struggled to retain possession, however, as Switzerland used their numerical advantage to control the match.
Johan Manzambi was particularly influential for the visitors, repeatedly finding space by moving between the lines and out towards the flanks. Gunn prevented Ndoye from extending Switzerland’s lead before half-time, while Scotland managed little going forward.
The visitors had 75% possession during the opening 45 minutes and Scotland’s frustration boiled over shortly before the interval when Pocognoli was booked for protesting a foul on John McGinn.
Switzerland doubled their advantage 10 minutes into the second half. Scotland failed to clear a corner and Ndoye collected the loose ball on the right before sending a low cross into the six-yard box, where Nico Elvedi arrived to finish from close range.
Pocognoli responded with a triple substitution, but Scotland remained unable to change the course of the match. Switzerland continued to create openings and eventually added a third in the 82nd minute.
Ndoye again supplied the assist, teeing up Zeki Amdouni 16 yards from goal. Amdouni’s fierce strike went through Gunn’s hands and into the roof of the net.
