Levein refusing to panic

Craig Levein insists there is no reason to be worried about Scotland's 2014 World Cup hopes despite the 1-1 draw with Macedonia at Hampden leaving his side with two points from two games.

The common consensus was that six points were needed from the opening double-header at home but the goalless draw against Serbia on Saturday followed by Tuesday night's result means the Scots are two points behind Serbia, Belgium and Croatia.

But Levein remains confident of qualifying, and said: "I look at the situation just now. There are three teams on four points, we are two points behind and for me there is no need to get worried about the situation just now. If you look at the table it doesn't look damaging at all, does it? It isn't as bad as people might make out. I am very positive about where we are going."

He went on: "You look at Serbia on Saturday, did you think they were better than us? I didn't.

"And I didn't think there was much between the teams tonight at all.

"I don't think we handled the counter-attack very well and that is more about personnel than anything else.

"We will have to get victories from somewhere, I accept that and playing away from home and sitting in might suit us.

"We would much rather be sitting with four points but what's done is done. The important thing is picking up points in the next match.

"I don't know what it will need, I don't know how many points it will take to qualify, what I do know is there are 24 left.

"I also know we have players to come back who will make the team stronger, particularly in the midfield area."