Crawford: Half-time talk saved us

Scotland striker Stevie Crawford has revealed how some straight talking in the dressing room at half-time helped avoid the humiliation of defeat in the Faroe Islands.

The Scots` Euro 2004 qualification opener at the home of the make-weight part-timers was teetering on the brink of disaster at that point.

Primary school teacher John Petersen had scored twice inside the first 12 minutes and Berti Vogts` team looked in complete disarray.

Crawford was a half-time change as he replaced Paul Dickov to join Kevin Kyle up front and he was part of a much-improved second-half performance that meant the team partially saved face with equalising goals from Paul Lambert and Barry Ferguson.

The home side also had chances after the break but Berti Vogts` competitive debut as Scotland manager ended in a 2-2 draw.

Lambert, the captain, had plenty to say at half-time as the Scots sought to overcome the black cloud of depression that had descended upon them in the tiny Toftir stadium.

Crawford said: "There were a few upset people at half-time and there was pride at stake as well. We all know we`re going through a transitional period, but without being disrespectful we were up against a side we should have been beating.

"We`ve come out in the second half and we`ve come back and managed to save some face but the damage was done in the first half.

"We had words at half-time but they were words of disappointment. We were representing Scottish football and we were 2-0 down.

"It would have been easy to chuck it but that wasn`t going to happen. I wouldn`t say there were riots in the changing room but there were a few upset people.

"I hope we can come back stronger. I think what the boys feel is that feeling of anger at half-time, even the guys who were subs. We`re in it as a squad together.

"The boys won`t want to go through that feeling we had at half-time again. It was hard to take. You feel sorry for yourself but you`ve got to go and try and do something about it. It was as low as I`ve felt in a match."

Meanwhile, all SPL midweek matches will mark the anniversary of the September 11 tragedy in the United States by holding a minute`s silence before kick-off.

Five SPL games take place on Wednesday - a year to the day since the terrorist attacks - while Motherwell face Celtic at Fir Park on Tuesday evening, when a silence will also be held.

Eight Champions League matches were called off a year ago in light of the events in America.