GORDON STRACHAN has said he felt the Canada friendly was an “invaluable” experience ahead of Scotland’s qualifier against Slovenia on Sunday. I can’t agree. It was a miserable night, the surface at Easter Road wasn’t great, the crowd was poor – but well done to those who did make it out – and the performance wasn’t brilliant either. So I’m not sure how the manager can extract too many positives from all of that.

On the plus side Tom Cairney didn’t look out of place on his debut, while Ikechi Anya was dangerous in the first half getting down the right flank. But that was it for me. The team selection I found baffling. Strachan said he wanted to give some players game time but that’s their clubs’ responsibility, not Scotland’s. I thought it would have been more useful to have pitched in more of those players likely to start on Sunday.

Of the team that started against Canada, I think only three will also start against Slovenia; Anya, Charlie Mulgrew and Darren Fletcher. I’m not even convinced Robert Snodgrass will start if Strachan decides to play Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and Matt Ritchie as I think he might. My guess at the team for Sunday night is: Craig Gordon, Anya, Russell Martin, Kieran Tierney (or maybe Andy Robertson), Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Forrest, Armstrong, Ritchie and Steven Fletcher up front. I don’t think I’ll be a million miles out there.

So, with that in mind, what was the point of giving game time on Wednesday night to those who aren’t going to feature on Sunday? It defeats the purpose. I would have thought playing, where possible, the team that will start against Slovenia would have been more beneficial, get them used to the shape and formation you are going to use, and let them try to build up a rapport.

Strachan also blamed the poverty on Wednesday’s performance on those players who aren’t featuring regularly for their clubs. But Lee Wallace, Robertson, Christophe Berra, Allan McGregor, Cairney, John McGinn, Charlie Mulgrew, Darren Fletcher, Snodgrass, Jordan Rhodes and Barry Bannan all play virtually every week. So Strachan maybe only means Oliver Burke whose performance admittedly was poor. But to say the rest of the team struggled because they aren’t getting game time with their clubs simply isn’t true.

Scotland’s defending was another cause for concern. Fraser Aird was brilliant on the night and could have had a hat-trick. But, without being disrespectful to him, he’s operating out of the second tier of Scottish football. On Sunday we’ll be coming up against guys playing with big European clubs. If we defend anywhere near as poorly in that one, we’ll lose the game heavily. Our last two competitive matches have both ended in 3-0 defeats and we can’t have a repeat of that. So the defending has to improve.

There was also a lack of a cutting edge on Wednesday. Strachan tried to change it by moving to a 4-4-2 by bringing on Leigh Griffiths and Rhodes, but at that point the supply line seemed to stop as the game fizzled out. That’s why I think guys like Forrest and Armstrong have to both start on Sunday, as does Ritchie who has been terrific for Newcastle this season. They all ought to bring the creativity that was so badly missing the other night.

The one position I’m not sure about still is striker. I don’t think it will be Chris Martin after his performance against Canada. Griffiths can stretch defences, gives you movement in behind and is a goal scorer and I’d be tempted to start him. But I think Strachan will start Steven Fletcher despite his lack of game time. He has the best link-up play of those in the squad and can bring guys like Armstrong into the game.

I think we’re into the last chance saloon in terms of our World Cup qualifying prospects. If we draw or lose then this can be considered a defective campaign. The Canada game has not helped raised spirits either, but there is no doubt that the players likely to be involved ought to be good enough to win this game and keep our slim qualifying chances alive.

We have reached the point where every match should be considered a must-win, and even if we were to do that and somehow finish second, there is every chance we still won’t have enough points for a play-off place. I don’t think we are going to qualify for the World Cup but all we can do is take it game by game. We have enough quality to win this game on Sunday and then we’ll need to take it from there.