Boss: Iwelumo blunder one in a hundred

8:51am Sunday 12th October 2008

Scotland manager George Burley claimed Chris Iwelumo would have scored "99 times out of 100" the incredible chance he squandered in Saturday's goalless World Cup qualifier against Norway.

The Wolves striker, 30, made his debut as a second-half substitute for James McFadden at Hampden Park but stunned the Tartan Army when he missed an open goal three yards out after Gary Naysmith had set him up.

Burley said: "We had some good opportunities, and if we had got the first goal then we would have won the game. But it didn't happen and 99 times out of 100 Chris would have scored."

He added: "Afterwards Chris said, 'I should have scored' and he is disappointed but he has shown that he is a goalscorer.

"His height and strength gave the Norway defence lots of problems and he linked well with Steven Fletcher.

"It was his first time in the squad but he showed that he could do well in international football."

Burley added: "It was a stalemate in the first half and I thought we stepped it up in the second half, changed the system and put them under pressure."

Despite facing a daunting trip to Holland in the next qualifier at the end of March, Burley insists Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes are not over.

He said: "It is still possible, it's not lost. It makes it more difficult just getting one point but we will battle all the way.

"It was always going to be a tight group - anyone can beat anyone and that showed here."

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