Levein admits Scotland relief

Scotland boss Craig Levein admitted his relief at claiming a last-gasp 2-1 win over Liechtenstein - but insisted it wasn't lucky.

Scotland were staring at a devastating defeat as Mario Frick gave the perennial minnows the lead just after half-time in Levein's first competitive game at Hampden.

And although Kenny Miller volleyed a 63rd-minute equaliser, Scotland needed a 97th-minute header from Stephen McManus to avoid suffering a humiliating setback just two games into their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

That sent an expectant Hampden crowd into raptures - and Scotland top of Group I with four points from two matches - but Levein felt it was no more they and his side deserved after keeping the faith as doom loomed in the second half.

"I feel happy and relieved - but lucky isn't the word," he told Sky Sports.

"I'm happy for everybody associated - the backroom staff, the players but most importantly our supporters.

Great support

"In this situation it would have been very easy for them to turn on us - 1-1 at home with a team that's supposedly far inferior to ourselves.

"But they cheered us right to the death and they got what they deserved.

"I felt the way the game was set up, it was that important we got an early goal," he added.

"We didn't get that and of course people get frustrated, the players get frustrated. It was very difficult against a well-organised defence.

"But I'm chuffed to bits that we're top of the group along with Lithuania and them beating the Czech Republic shows just what a good result that was for us to get a point over there."

Lithuania pulled off a surprise 1-0 win in the Czech Republic after holding Scotland to a 0-0 draw in Kaunas on Friday.

Scotland failed to take advantage of their dominance against Liechtenstein, just as they did in Lithuania, although Levein felt his side's frustration was also down to the organisation of the visitors.

No mugs

"As I said to people before the game, Liechtenstein aren't mugs," he said. "They're difficult to break down and they proved it.

"A bit of it was us lacking confidence and our touch being out a little bit but they're a decent side and they proved that.

"When you start throwing more bodies forward and taking chances then you leave yourself open and that happened tonight.

"But we got what we deserved out of the match, which was the most important thing."

Scotland had far greater thrust after James Morrison, Steven Naismith and Barry Robson came on in the second half and Levein had praise for the young pair in particular.

"I think the important thing for me is that I had a couple of guys who came on the pitch and did fantastically well - James Morrison and Steven Naismith," he said.

"They showed great appetite and desire and willingness to work their socks off for the jersey, and they're guys I can rely on.

"I want to play a certain way, I want everybody to pull their weight and do a shift and those two lads did fantastic for me.

"If anybody plays well then there's an opportunity to start the next match."

Scotland resume their qualifying campaign in the Czech Republic on 8th October before hosting reigning world and European champions Spain on 12th October.