Slovenia v Scotland - UEFA Nations League result as Sebastien Pocognoli denied debut win by wasteful finishing and Jan Oblak masterclass in Ljubljana

Scotland were held to a frustrating goalless draw in Slovenia as a Jan Oblak masterclass and some wasteful finishing denied manager Sebastien Pocognoli a debut win.

The 39-year-old Belgian replaced long-serving manager Steve Clarke last month and shook things up by picking debutants Stephen Welsh and Robbie Ure and bringing Oli McBurnie back from five years in the international wilderness.

But Scotland started sluggishly as they struggled to create any chances of note until Ure’s shot rattled a post at the end of the first half.

Pocognoli’s side came out for the second half transformed and quickly began to dominate proceedings, but they could not find a way past inspired Atletico Madrid keeper Oblak.

McBurnie spurned a big chance when Oblak pinched the ball off his toes as he tried to round the keeper when one-on-one instead of shooting, before Billy Gilmour’s dangerous shot required a diving stop.

Substitute Kieron Bowie then had a finish charged down by Oblak, before fluffing a shot wide with just the keeper to beat after the Slovenia captain had parried away a point-blank McBurnie header from a corner. 

Scotland’s strong second-half showing will be a source of encouragement ahead of the visit of World Cup quarter-finalists Switzerland to Hampden Park on Tuesday night.

”I was asked to play a different position today and I quite enjoyed it. I enjoy the manager’s ideas, we’ve had some good chats about it already and I think it suited me in there," McBurnie said.

”But I’m not going to be able to sleep today with those chances. It’s a tough one, but I would rather be getting in the positions than not getting the chances. Hopefully I can get another chance in the next game and put it to bed.

"In the second half it’s a lot more what the manager wanted from us.

"I thought it was a very good performance. We had them pinned in for a lot of the game. Even when they tried to get out, our defensive marking was excellent at the back and it was waves of pressure, which is what the gaffer wants. The only thing missing was a goal or two, and hopefully we can find that clinical-ness on Tuesday.”

”It took a bit of getting used to in the first half, the new formation and the way the gaffer wanted to play. But I thought once we did we looked really good," McBurnie told the BBC.

”We created enough chances to kill the game and we are really disappointed we didn’t get the three points. I think I’ve got to score and a couple of the other lads as well.

”It’s disappointing, but a good start under a new manager I think.”

Sturm gets into the box and looks to have won a corner, but the decision goes Scotland's way. Another strange call, not the first today.

Not long for a winner to be found...

The Slovenian keeper has earned them a point tonight if it stays like this.

That save on Gilmour was the pick of the bunch.

Didn't take him long, as Gilmour is tripped from behind.

Oblak doesn't get to Robertson's delivery, but Scotland are forced wide.

Bowie goes down in the box as a cross comes in, then Welsh lashes over an effort when the ball breaks at the edge of the box.

Scotland now have 15 attempts to Slovenia's three in this game. It has been a transformation in the second half.

That's a nasty one, as Robertson is caught on the ankle. It took the referee a while to actually stop play and award it, though.

Free-kick out on the left wing...the home side are hanging on a bit now.

Slovenia's final change sees the booked Slovenian replaced as Udinese's Lovric comes on.

Gannon-Doak replaces Hickey on the right-hand side. He will bring bags of pace and energy.

Another MASSIVE chance for Scotland goes begging.

Bowie is slipped through brilliantly by Gilmour and tries to find the bottom corner, but he pulls his finish wide. A huge opportunity squandered.

Scotland aren't happy about that one as the Slovenian is booked.

Vipotnik and Balkovec are on for the hosts, replacing Sporar and Brekalo.

McBurnie meets the corner and gets a good head on it but, Oblak's arms shoot up to parry the effort away.

A Scotland goal feels a matter of time at this rate, but Slovenia's keeper is determined to get that clean sheet.

Superb stuff from Scotland as Welsh plays a fantastic through ball into Bowie's path, but Oblak rushes out to charge down the shot.

The substitute looked like he may have been offside, but the flag stayed down and it's a corner.

McGinn's corner is met by Hickey, whose glancing header flashes beyond the far post. Great effort from the Brentford man.

Bowie then gets his first sniff as he steps inside a defender and takes aim, but his shot is straight at Oblak.

Scotland have been miles better in ths second half - can they push on and find a winner in the final 20 minutes?

Hickey's nod-on doesn't quite reach Ure, but it's another positive move from Scotland.

That will be Ure's final involvement as he is replaced by Sassuolo's Kieron Bowie.

A solid debut from the Sevilla man, who came closer than anyone to opening the scoring by hitting the post late in the first half.

Elsnik and Drkusic are replaced by Zec and Zabukovnik in the first substitutions of the game.