THE punter sitting in the posh seats right behind the media rows must have walked away from Hampden Park last night feeling wonderfully sheepish.

Chris Martin is nobody’s idea of a new Kenny Dalglish but he didn’t deserve the loud shout of “don’t do it” directed at Gordon Strachan when he was about to make his last substitution of the night, putting on the big front-man for James Morrison who’d had a good evening. There were even some boos.

And then all of a sudden Martin was free inside the area, with two minutes to go, a shattered but magnificent Stuart Armstrong summed up the last of his energy to find his team-mate with a pass and the much-maligned Fulham player, on loan from Derby, got his left foot shot just right.

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Stuart Armstrong’s success shows that the Scottish game disregards boys’ club football at its peril

Scotland still probably won’t make the World Cup in Russia; however, we have a chance thanks to a performance which we have been waiting for.

If only Gordon Strachan both earlier in this World Cup campaign and in the previous attempt at the European Championship had looked at his squad and said to himself “you know what, I’m going to pick the team on ability and form.”

It worked last night, it saved Strachan’s job and the national team have something to go for. It’s England next. The game takes place in June. Their players will surely by them be emotionally on the beach by then after a long season.

This is what happens when you play the best players available. Kieran Tierney at right-back is a million times better than one of the brightest talents in British football not playing at all. He and Andy Robertson have to start even if some tinkering is required.

We are not close to being good enough to leave either of them out.

Leigh Griffiths ran the Slovenian defence ragged, hit the woodwork couple of times and linked up well his midfield until injury forced him off.

And this was the Celtic man from a disrupted season rather than the Player of the Year of 12 months ago who was un-droppable for his club and seemingly impossible to pick for his country.

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Stuart Armstrong’s success shows that the Scottish game disregards boys’ club football at its peril

Charlie Mulgrew is our best centre-half, James Morrison has never let down Scotland, he should always start, and when Griffiths went off, Strachan went with Steven Naismith, again the right choice, and for one night we looked an international team.

Being fourth in a Champions League group is a hell of a lot better than being a mid-table English Championship side. Let’s hope lessons have been learned.

There may have been lot of lots of empty seats inside Hampden Park; however, those who came along could not say their team gave their all. That they did not care or, in short, aren’t good enough.

Within a minute, punt from Craig Gordon forced a corner, taken by Robert Snodgrass which would have led to a goal had Slovenia’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak not made a smart save to deny Russell Martin.

The crowd may have been on the small size but now they could be heard.

Scotland kept attacking, moving the ball to feet with pace, precision and genuine confidence, which had been lacking in previous games, to the extent Strachan thought his team had taken the lead when Martin’s superb header beat Oblak, only for Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers to, correctly, disallow it for a foul.

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Stuart Armstrong’s success shows that the Scottish game disregards boys’ club football at its peril

What was this collective feeling going around Mount Florida? It was encouragement dipped in optimism. Heady times.

That’s not to say Slovenia at least hinted that they could cause problems; however, Scotland were the better side for large parts of the first-half. Possession was clearly king and no chances were taken when the back four were pressed, those wearing blue happy to pass the ball back.

This brought frustrated jeers from the home supporters, many of whom are very much in the ‘lump it at any cost’ camp. Do you think the German, Spanish or Italian players get stuck for keeping the ball?

Then came a moment ten minutes before the break which has us all on our feet and then our heads in our hands.

Andy Robertson surged, Snodgrass crossed and the ball was there for Griffiths to hit on the volley which he did, only for the crossbar to get rattled. He was between a header and a shot, like a golfer who finds himself between clubs and then sends his pitch into the bunker.

Then the striker hit the inside of a post, Morrison saw a header cleared off the line and you began to fear it was one of those nights, and Scotland endure such nights more than most.

Read more: Matthew Lindsay: Stuart Armstrong’s success shows that the Scottish game disregards boys’ club football at its peril

Oh, and before that Morrison’s shot rippled the side-netting. It’s no fair!

However, Scotland kept going. They weren’t as fluid as before the break but still dominated the second best team in the group.

Another change was made. The tiring Snodgrass made way for Ikechi Anya and the substitute’s first touch was one he won’t remember as, with 15 minutes to go, the ball broke to him inside the box and his shot was more a pass-back to Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak. The game was becoming full of ‘if only’ moments.

And then up stepped the only Chris Martin it’s okay to like. Good on him and good on Gordon Strachan.