A BIG game, a big call by George Burley and one that did not come off for the Scotland manager. There were boos when he replaced James McFadden with Chris Iwelumo 10 minutes into the second half, then there was wide-eyed disbelief as Iwelumo somehow contrived to miss a tap-in almost 10 minutes after his introduction.

Would McFadden have scored? Yes. Would Kris Boyd, who stayed on the bench, have scored? Yes. Would you have scored? Probably. It was a nightmare start to an international career that had been a long time coming for the 30-year-old and he said: “I’m gutted. I put my foot out and it hit the heel. I had a big chance and I should put them away so I’m disappointed but it’s gone now and I’ve just got to move on.”

Iwelumo might have made amends in the final minute when both he and Steven Fletcher stretched to connect with the ball that Kirk Broadfoot fizzed across the six-yard box but neither could quite reach it. Yet Norway could also have won all three points in the final 10 minutes. Kjetil Waehler slid in at the back post and put a diving header wide and Steffen Iversen should have scored when found by Morten Gamst Pedersen but Craig Gordon saved. Finally, David Weir made a rare error and John Carew shot just over.

The Aston Villa striker’s pace rather than his 6ft 4in frame troubled Scotland initially. One shot was pushed out by Gordon only for Bjorn Helge Riise to drive woefully high. There was also, inevitably, a threat from Norwegian set pieces. Brede Hangeland headed wide from a Frederik Stromstad corner and Weir denied Carew when he threatened to pounce on a knockdown.

Burley could only look on enviously at the focus Carew provided for Norway as a lone striker. McFadden, for all his ingenuity, struggled to make much of the meagre rations that came his way from Scotland’s five-man midfield.

In truth, a first-half goal for the home side would have hardly been a fair reflection of the opening 45 minutes as Norway were far more threatening. It was, therefore, slightly surprising that Scotland restarted without any alterations.

But 10 minutes in, with Carew having again demanded a save from Gordon at his near post and Waehler dropping a header just wide from a corner, Burley had seen enough. On came Steven Fletcher for Morrison and Iwelumo for McFadden, the latter change bringing boos from the home support.

It was either a bold or botched call by Burley and initially it brought some new impetus to his side. But then came the pivotal moment of the match. Scott Brown cleverly manoeuvred on the left to play Gary Naysmith in with a splendid reverse pass and the left-back cross begged conversion with both Steven Fletcher and Iwelumo waiting in the middle. It came to the big Wolves striker but he got his feet horribly wrong and somehow the ball squirted wide off his right heel. Those who specialise in Christmas gaffe videos are probably re-editing their cruel compliations as you read this.

The miss may ultimately prove the defining moment of this campaign and of Burley’s reign as Scotland’s manager.

Star man: John Carew (Norway)

Yellow cards: Norway: Hoiland, Iversen

Referee: M Bussaca (Switzerland)

Attendance: 51,300

SCOTLAND: Gordon 8, Broadfoot 7, Caldwell 6, Weir 6, Naysmith 7, Brown 8, Robson 7, D Fletcher 6, Morrison 6 (S Fletcher 56min, 7), Maloney 7, McFadden 7 (Iwelumo 56min, 5)

NORWAY: Knudsen 6, Hoiland 7, Waehler 7, Hangeland 7, JA Riise 7, BH Riise 5 (Braaten 56min, 6), Winsnes 6, Grindheim 6, Stromstad 7 (Pedersen 77min), Iversen 7, Carew 8