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Burley refuses to blame Iwulemo for dropped points

11/10/2008

Scotland manager George Burley has refused to blame striker Chris Iwulemo for the dropped points in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Iwulemo missed an open goal from three yards out during Scotland's 0-0 draw with Norway at Hampden Park but Burley dismissed the blunder as a rarity that just happened at the wrong time for his side.

Burley told the BBC: "He'd score 99 times out of 100 and unfortunately this was the one occasion that he didn't score.

"There's still everything to play for, but drawing makes it more difficult."

The Scotland boss said he chose to put Iwulemo on instead of Rangers striker Kris Boyd because Boyd has failed to get much first-team action so far this season and Iwulemo has been in good form.

Burley insisted: "Kris Boyd has got to establish himself in the Rangers team, which he hasn't done. Chris Iwulemo came on because he's been playing regularly and has scored eight goals in six games for Wolves."

Despite enjoying most of the possession and territory Scotland failed to convert their dominance into goals, which left Burley feeling a little frustrated.

He thought his side had done enough to earn a goal that would have put them in a good position in the group.

"We had some chances and played some really decent stuff going forward, but we couldn't manage to get that goal," said Burley.

"We needed to get that first goal and, if we had got that, I think we would have won the match."

Scotland's next match will be a friendly against Argentina in November before they face Holland in their next World Cup qualifier in March.