Matt Ritchie has been criticised by former Scotland defender Willie Miller.
Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie celebrates after scoring
Pundit Willie Miller has told BBC Sport that he felt Matt Ritchie was ‘disappointing’ during Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Lithuania on Saturday night.
After hammering Malta 5-1 in September, Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign had shown some promise – but Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Lithuania showed just how far Gordon Strachan’s men still have to go.
Malta’s Steve Borg in action with Scotland’s Matt Ritchie
Lithuania stunned an expectant Hampden Park as Fedor Cernych opened the scoring, and they almost claimed a shock win before James McArthur popped up with a header to rescue a point for Scotland.
The result was a setback for Scotland, but they will have a chance to put it right away at Slovakia on Tuesday night, with manager Strachan potentially set to ring the changes in his side.
A number of players underwhelmed against Lithuania, and winger Matt Ritchie was one player in particular who disappointed at Hampden Park.
Scotland’s Matt Ritchie in action with Italy’s Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi
The Newcastle winger, 27, went into the game with an impressive record of three goals in 12 caps, but struggled to make an impact against Lithuania before being substituted for Leigh Griffiths with 20 minutes left to play.
After the game, pundit Willie Miller offered his player ratings to BBC Sport, and graded Ritchie at just five out of ten after a flat performance.
Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie and Huddersfield Town’s Chris Lowe in action
Miller called Ritchie’s display ‘disappointing’, and particularly criticised him for not getting enough crosses into the box or working hard enough out wide.
“Disappointing,” said Miller. “He’s in the team to get quality crosses into the box and to run hard down his side, but he didn’t do it. His delivery in Malta was really good, but not here. I wasn’t surprised when he was taken off,” he added.
What did you think of Ritchie’s display against Lithuania?
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