SCOTLAND'S Under 21s laboured to a draw in their opening game in the Toulon Tournament yesterday and needed an equaliser from Everton starlet Fraser Hornby to rescue a point in the south of France.
Scot Gemmill's youngsters never quite got to grips with Togo after losing a goal after only three minutes in Aubagne. Togo were reduced to ten men in injury time, but the Scots never looked likely to snatch a winner.
And with a daunting next game against hosts France, who thrashed South Korea in the Group's other game yesterday, up next on Wednesday, Scotland will need to produce a far better display than against Togo, whose senior team are rated 128th in the FIFA World Rankings.
But Gemmill is convinced the Scots will improve. He said: "We can definitely do better. The first game of the tournament can be particularly challenging.
"When you concede a really early goal you always make it difficult for yourselves. But we recovered well, created a lot of chances and should have won the game. The fact we haven't is disappointing but there were a lot of positives.
"Last year we started with a loss at Toulon and went on to do well. So we need to get our heads up and push on to the second game now."
The African nation - managed by veteran Claude Le Roy, who is now in charge of his 11th country - sang their way into the Stade de Lattre after their arrival and their cheeriness only increased when they stunned the Scots by taking a third minute lead.
Celtic defender Antony Ralston took a fresh air swipe while trying to perform a routine clearance and Thomas Wogodo couldn't believe his luck when presented with the ball in front of target and he easily converted the chance past young Parkhead keeper Ross Doohan.
Scotland, who had a very decent claim for a penalty inside the opening minute when captain Oliver Burke was barged off the ball in the box, eventually clawed their way back into the game in the 18th minute.
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Hornby has been likened to a young Duncan Ferguson and the Everton starlet showed why with a superb, powering header at the back post from a Mikey Johnston deep free kick. He's already played for the Goodison Park side's first team this season and looks like he could be a genuine prospect.
The Scots took command now and Aberdeen's Scott Wright and Burke were both denied in quick succession by fine saves by Togo keeper Yorgan Agblemagnon. And Scotland missed a sitter with the last kick of the first half when St Johnstone's Jason Kerr somehow shot straight at the keeper with a volley from a couple of yards out.
Gemmill's side were finding it a struggle to break down the well-organised Togolese and it proved too much for SFA Performance Director Malky Mackay who was warned by the Fourth Official after one complaint too many. In truth, Togo finished stronger than the Scots as they went in search of a winner.
Togo were reduced to ten men in injury time as Victor Mensah was given a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Ralston, but Scotland rarely looked likely to conjure up a winner they scarcely deserved, despite sub Glenn Middleton twice sending in dangerous crosses with no takers in injury time.
SCOTLAND (4-2-3-1): Doohan (Celtic) - Ralston (Celtic), Kerr (St Johnstone), Porteous (Hibs), Taylor (Kilmarnock) - Wilson (Kilmarnock), Campbell (Motherwell) - Burke (WBA) (Wighton (Dundee) 69), Wright (Aberdeen) (Burt (Rangers) 51, ), Johnston (Celtic) (Middleton (Rangers) 77 - Hornby (Everton) (St Clair (Chelsea) 90).
Substitutes not used: McCrorie (Rangers), Harvie (Aberdeen), Watt (Wolves), Gilmour (Chelsea), Hamilton (Hearts).
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