Time running out for Vogts

Seven defeats, two wins over the might of Iceland and Canada, plus a scrambled draw with the Faroe Islands. Berti Vogts' record as manager of Scotland would be relegation form in league football and means he could hardly complain were he asked to collect his cards this Valentine's Day, the first anniversary of his appointment.

It will not happen. Yet the nonchalance with which the Republic of Ireland marked Brian Kerr's first fortnight in charge with a 2-0 victory in Wednesday's friendly in Glasgow suggested Vogts' position could become untenable – with a restless press and public, if not the Scottish Football Association hierarchy – should Scotland endure similar results in either of their Euro 2004 qualifiers six weeks hence.

Much as England's embarrassment by Australia provided comic relief for the Tartan Army, it also demonstrated the danger of discounting supposedly inferior opposition such as Iceland and Lithuania will offer. Neither will be as strong, surely, as the Irish, but so scarce were the redeeming features of the Scots' display that a repeat of the Faroese fiasco is far from inconceivable.

Vogts said beforehand that he expects improvements to Hampden Park's rutted pitch before Iceland's visit on 29 March. A tabloid headline yesterday claimed he did his bit by covering it in manure. One broadsheet, ploughing a similar furrow, reckoned his selection was a case of "crap rotation". From the rusty Neil Sullivan in goal, through a humdrum defence and mundane midfield, to strikers that did not once worry Ireland, no unit or individual emerged with credit.

Even without Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Shay Given, Kerr looked to have inherited a relative embarrassment of riches. Ireland still gave the impression of a side with a pattern of play which suits the personnel. Despite the disruption caused by Roy Keane's shabbily timed announcement, the understanding and rhythm that characterised their performance mocked Vogts' argument that things might have been different had he had his squad together for a week to work on "special things".

The fact remains, however, that Scotland are better placed to reach the play-offs for a place in Portugal. They have four points from two away matches, whereas the Irish lost both opening fixtures before Mick McCarthy's departure. Kerr, a dignified victor, has made an auspicious start. But he needs wins in both forthcoming group games, in Georgia and Albania, to avoid being reduced to long-term planning for the 2006 World Cup.