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BBC News
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Slicker endures horror debut - but who is Scotland's seventh-choice keeper?
Cieran Slicker flashed a quick smile at head coach Steve Clarke as he bounded on to the Hampden pitch six minutes and 37 seconds into Scotland's friendly with Iceland to replace stricken starter Angus 64 seconds later, the debutant took a panicked slash at a Kieran Tierney pass back and the ball eventually found its way to Andri Gudjohnsen, who arced a fine finish high over the stranded smile was gone. The misery was just beginning. Indeed, the next hour might be among the worst Slicker will endure in his career. How did the nightmare unfold? Slicker didn't really have any time to acclimatise to international mistake - and a relatively small one at that - one goal. confidence was visibly shaken and he rushed his next couple of kicks before unconvincingly clinging on to a shot from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson at the second attempt. It was his only save of the second Iceland goal was caused by dreadful work by the entire Scotland defence, culminating with Slicker failing to scramble the ball off his line after it ricocheted towards goal off Lewis should have been an opportunity to regroup and reset, but the third concession was perhaps the most egregious. Victor Palsson's header was straight at Slicker, but the ball burst through his arms and into the back of the later, the sparse Hampden crowd cheered ironically when Slicker successfully caught the ball. It summed up a torrid night for the young man. So who is Slicker? Eligible through his Scottish father, Slicker was signed by the then-League One Ipswich Town from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2023 on a three-year 22-year-old was an unused substitute for City manager Pep Guardiola for several first-team games in the 2021-22 season. He also spent time on loan at Rochdale before his Ipswich move, but failed to make a league was part of the Tractor Boys squad that recorded back-to-back promotions to the Premier League, making a few appearances in domestic cup competitions along the way and filling in as the back-up keeper on occasion too. But Slicker played just 10 minutes for Ipswich last season - in the FA Cup - and is still to make his senior league has 17 caps at under-21 level for Scotland - with three clean sheets - and was first called up for the senior squad in November 2024. What did Clarke say about it? "It's difficult for Cieran, I really feel for him," the Scotland head coach told BBC Sport Scotland. "He got thrown into a situation that he wasn't quite ready for but Craig Gordon's injured, Liam Kelly's injured, Zander Clark is injured."It's something I thought might come back to bite us [the lack of goalkeeping options]. The only good thing is it came in a friendly match."I'd imagine [Angus Gunn] won't play the next game."I've had young Callan McKenna in the squad so he'll travel then we'll have a look and see if we can find another goalkeeper in Scotland who's not on holiday." What happens now? Not only are Gordon, Kelly and Clark out at present, Robby McCrorie went down in the warm-up. It all likelihood, he's the one who would have come on against Gunn and McCrorie likely out of Monday's friendly against Liechtenstein, too, and Slicker's confidence through the floor, will Clarke turn to someone else?"You have to find out what's in the player's mind as well, how he's feeling about it," former Scotland defender Willie Miller said of Slicker."What you're looking for is honesty from him. Does he feel like he can take on the challenge in the next game, or that he doesn't want to?"Does the manager want to take him out of the firing line?"McKenna, 18, has more senior experience than Slicker, but not by much. He played nine matches for Queen's Park in the Scottish Championship before signing for Bournemouth in 2024. He's been in their development squad since and has been with the Scotland group as a training player for the past the lack of options, Clarke's first phone call might be to Jon two-time Scotland cap, 37, only played one FA Cup game for Swansea City last season and is now out of contract. But he was a squad regular, is experienced, and would likely be considered one of the safest options. Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken was in Scotland squads during the season just gone, but was replaced between at Dens Park by Trevor Carson midway through the Scottish-based options would be Scott Bain - recently released by Celtic - or Ross Doohan - recently signed by Dons keeper Craig MacGillivray has previously been called up by Clarke, too, but would appear to be a long way down the pecking order these days. 'Frustration bordering on anger at situation' Clarke was much more candid about Slicker's night than many thought he might spoke about this was too early for him, him not being ready for it. It's clear that the lad is suffering after being thrown in to a also sounds like he was always going to be third choice - and therefore there for experience rather than game time - until McCrorie's injury in the warm-up. It's an unforgiving thing is clear though, Clarke's manner over the goalkeeping situation was frustration bordering on anger.
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pressure mounts on Scotland boss Steve Clarke after young keeper's debut turns into Hampden horror show
Steve Clarke claimed he had no choice but to select Cieran Slicker after the keeper endured a nightmare on his Scotland debut. A dismal 3-1 defeat to Iceland in their Hampden friendly led to jeers from the Tartan Army, and intensified the pressure on the manager ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn. Thrown on to replace the injured Angus Gunn after eight minutes, Slicker was at fault for each goal, but the 22-year-old wasn't solely to blame as Clarke's side turned in a lifeless and flat performance. Called into the squad despite playing just nine minutes of competitive football for Ipswich this season, his first involvement was a poor kick which led to Andri Gudjohnsen's opener, with another error amid a static Scotland defence leading to Lewis Ferguson's own goal after John Souttar had equalised. He then failed to keep out a routine header by Victor Palsson. Asked why he had turned to the young keeper, Clarke said Robby McCrorie had injured his thigh in the warm-up, and admitted the experience simply came too soon for Slicker. 'It was a difficult night,' he said. 'It didn't get off to the best of starts when we lost our No2 goalkeeper in the warm-up, then two minutes into the game our No1 gets injured as well. It was a tough night and I feel a little bit for young Cieran.' Asked how Slicker could recover from such a catastrophic debut, Clarke added: 'I'll sit with him over the next couple of days and have a little chat about it. I'll give him reassurance because he probably went in when it was too early. 'He wasn't quite ready for it. That wasn't his fault. That's the circumstances that dictated that. We'll now try and support him as much as we can. 'Listen, he'll get over it. Goalkeepers are a resilient bunch. His character is good in and around the squad. He's comfortable. 'This was probably just an opportunity that came a little bit too early for him. 'Listen, we could talk about Cieran and what happened for him, but it's a circumstance I pointed out in March. I could see something like this possibly happening. 'The only crumb of comfort to take from it is that it happened in a friendly match. And hopefully we can be better prepared when it comes to the autumn.' Gunn and McCrorie now join Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark on the list of injured Scotland keepers. Clarke will add Bournemouth teenager Callan McKenna to the squad that travels to face Liechtenstein on Monday. 'I'll also have a little scout around and see if anybody is not on the beach and is available to come,' he said. 'Our options are not exactly jumping off the page at me. We will go away and see how he reacts, how he is overnight, how he is tomorrow and at training on Sunday. 'It is pretty unusual to have your five first-choice goalkeepers all injured. Not everyone plays regularly at their club. It is something we have to address and look at. But it is not going to change in a click of the fingers. It is more for the long term, and the next head coach and the next head coach after that. ' Clarke admitted the overall display fell well short of expectations. 'After the disruption at the start, we were quite lacklustre,' he said. 'It took us a while to get into the game. 'We made a few chances, their keeper made some good saves. We got ourselves back into it and then like the last game v Greece, we conceded a bad goal just before half time. We need to eliminate that type of concession and be more solid going into the half. That is something we can work on.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Steve Clarke to launch hunt for goalkeeping cover after Scotland lose to Iceland
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke will launch an immediate hunt for goalkeeping cover after Cieran Slicker was thrust into a difficult debut in a 3-1 Hampden defeat by Iceland. The 22-year-old was brought on in the seventh minute after Angus Gunn suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury, and after the more experienced substitute Robby McCrorie had suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up. The Ipswich goalkeeper conceded almost immediately, after giving the ball away, and never really recovered. He struggled with his kicking and handling and was blocked on the line as a Lewis Ferguson own goal gave Iceland the lead again just before the break, after John Souttar had headed an equaliser. Slicker, who only has six first-team appearances in his club career, got two hands to a header but conceded again just after the break. Scotland now face Liechtenstein in Vaduz in another friendly on Monday and Clarke will look for options with the only other fit goalkeeper in the camp being 18-year-old Callan McKenna of Bournemouth, who was brought in for training experience in midweek. 'A difficult night. We didn't have the best of starts. You lose your number two goalkeeper in the warm-up and then two minutes into the game your number one gets injured as well,' Clarke said. 'So, a tough night. I feel a little bit for young Cieran. I'll sit with him over the next couple of days and we'll have a little chat about it.' Clarke was already without Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark through injury and had warned over the lack of depth in the goalkeeping department when he named the squad. 'We'll have a little scout around and see if anybody's not on the beach and available to come,' he said. 'Options are not exactly jumping off the page at me.' Slicker could need to play in Vaduz unless an experienced option presents itself over the weekend. 'We'll see how he reacts, how he is overnight, how he is in training on Saturday or Sunday, before we travel and make a decision from there,' Clarke said. When asked how he could lift Slicker, Clarke said: 'Just by reassurance, that he probably went in when it was too early. He wasn't quite ready for it. That's not his fault. That's the circumstances that dictated that. 'We'll try and support him as much as we can and, listen, he'll get over it. Goalkeepers are a resilient bunch. 'He's good around the squad, he's comfortable. Like I said, probably an opportunity that came a little bit too early for him but we'll be there to support him and help him.'
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Iceland humiliate sorry Scotland on night of alarm for Steve Clarke
A year ago, Scotland were heading for the European Championships amid wild excitement. Events since have included Nations League high points but umpteen chastening experiences. This proved another of the latter. For the second game in succession, Steve Clarke's team lost three goals at home. The nature of Iceland's success – a fully deserving one – in Glasgow felt ominous in respect of an upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. With Germany and the Euros such a distant memory, Clarke does not have his troubles to seek. Scotland look a team that has passed its peak. There were no redeeming features at all attached to this display. Clarke must be alarmed. The opening to the game was notable for the injury sustained by the Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn. When collecting a routine cross, Gunn's knee clattered into Andri Gudjohnsen with the consequences apparently serious. Gunn limped from the field after just six minutes. Gunn's replacement, the debutant Cieran Slicker, was to endure an inauspicious arrival in international football. With just his second touch, Slicker kicked the ball straight to Stefan Teitur Thordarson. Gudjohnsen was the gleeful recipient of Thordarson's header, the Gent man taking one touch before sending a glorious left foot shot into Slicker's top right hand corner. Whether affected by the goalkeeper change or otherwise, the Scots were horribly ragged in the first quarter. The position has long been regarded as a problematic one, the consequence of negligence by clubs and the Scottish FA when the country did have a batch of fine custodians. Neither Gunn nor Slicker in truth are international class goalkeepers. The current best option, Craig Gordon, is 42. George Hirst should have levelled the scores, the Ipswich striker instead heading over when it looked easier to find the net from a John McGinn cross. As Hirst came close again, Scotland had found their pulse. John Souttar claimed the equaliser after meeting Max Johnston's corner with a stooping header. Scotland were behind again before the interval, this time on account of hilariously incompetent defending. An Iceland corner flew off Lewis Ferguson and into Grant Hanley. As the ball rebounded off Ferguson again, Slicker chose to dive over the top of it. No Iceland player had touched the ball from the set play. All that was lacking was an appearance from the Keystone Cops. Scotland were booed off at half-time. Slicker's night was to get even worse. Victor Pálsson met an Albert Gudmundsson free-kick with his head, a matter that should have provided no real problem for the goalkeeper. However, the ball flew right through Slicker's hands. This had become a painful watch and a painful listen; Scotland's support mocked Slicker when he picked up a loose ball soon after Iceland's third. This was a cruel if calamitous scene for Slicker, whose only club first team appearance last season was as an 81st minute substitute for Ipswich against Bristol Rovers. What did we really expect? Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Hirst thought he had restored hope. Scott McTominay, hitherto quiet, fired in a low shot which Elias Rafn Ólafsson could only palm to Hirst's feet. The VAR and an offside call dulled brief Scottish excitement. Clarke has presided over a dozen friendlies and won two, against the might of Luxembourg and Gibraltar. Technically, those results barely matter. The standard of Scotland's play does, though. They will be nowhere near the World Cup if this total malfunction proves a sign of things to come.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Scotland goalkeeper Cieran Slicker has debut to forget in home defeat to Iceland
Cieran Slicker had a debut to forget as Scotland's World Cup qualifying warm-up friendly ended with a 3-1 defeat by Iceland at Hampden Park. Luckless home goalkeeper Angus Gunn sustained an injury in the third minute and eventually had to be replaced by the 22-year-old Ipswich stopper, minutes after which he conceded possession before Andri Gudjohnsen beat him with a terrific drive. John Souttar levelled in the 25th minute from a corner but Slicker and his defenders struggled collectively when the visitors regained the lead from a corner, just before the break, with Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson putting through his own goal. Slicker was again found wanting in the 52nd minute when he was beaten by a Victor Palsson header, which added the gloss for the visitors. Iceland had lost all six of their previous meetings with Scotland but they deserved their first win. Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston and Ipswich forward George Hirst made their first starts in an otherwise experienced team with defender Kieran Tierney winning his 50th cap playing in a back five. After a minute's applause to remember former Scottish FA president Jack McGinn, midfielder John McGinn's grandfather, who died last month aged 92, play started then soon stopped when Gunn – starting as Craig Gordon was injured – stayed on the ground after landing awkwardly. After some treatment, the 29-year-old was replaced by Slicker, who endured a nightmare start. His clearance was immediately returned to Gudjohnsen – son of former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur – and from 20 yards, he drove the ball high past Slicker. Two more poor kicks from the keeper did nothing for confidence. In the 21st minute, good pressing from McGinn won him possession inside the Iceland penalty area but from his pinpoint cross, Hirst headed over from six yards. Then after Slicker had gathered a drive from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson at the second attempt, the Hirst then tested Iceland goalkeeper Elias Olafsson with a drive which was tipped over the crossbar but from Johnston's corner, Souttar stooped to head in from six yards. Scotland began to find some flow but when Albert Gundmundsson delivered a corner in the 44th minute, Slicker and his defenders failed to deal with it and the ball ricocheted off a couple of players before it came off Ferguson and over the line. Boos rang around the stadium at half-time and there was more consternation after 52 minutes when Palsson's header from a Gudmundsson free-kick went through the hands of Slicker, with VAR confirming the goal after a suspicion of offside. The Ipswich keeper was then sarcastically cheered by some of the Tartan Army after a comfortable collect. At the other end, Hirst's effort from close range – it looked like the ball came off his shoulder following a Johnston cross – was brilliantly saved by Olafsson. The Iceland keeper was beaten in the 63rd minute by Hirst after parrying a Scott McTominay shot, but the Napoli midfielder was ruled offside. Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller came on to make his Scotland debut in the 68 minute, along with striker Che Adams and defender Scott McKenna, by which time the home side had gained the initiative. Olafsson tipped McGinn's clever chip over the crossbar in the 88th minute but there was no late Scotland siege.
