Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
But, as if Steve Clarke and his side haven’t worked quite enough wonders over the last year or so, in Vienna they very nearly managed both at the same time.
And that’s probably when you begin to know you’re onto something a bit special.
In the end, the loss of two late goals against the Austrians might have felt like a body blow to Clarke, given that his side had established a 2-0 lead and seemed to be winning this friendly without any good reason.
At times they had to survive an onslaught with the remarkable Craig Gordon adding another 90 minutes to his personal Scotland catalogue of heroics.
But in the end, they could probably consider themselves fortunate to get out of town with their unbeaten run stretched to eight games.
An ugly first-half opener from Jack Hendry sent them on their way.
But John McGinn looked to have wrapped up another win with a thing of beauty 10 minutes into the second half only for the home side to summon up a storming late comeback.
And only the hardest of hearts would not admit they deserved it even if it hardly counts as a consolation.
Clarke did promise a fairly liberal sprinkling of changes and the boss was as good as his word.
In total, half of his outfield from Thursday’s draw with Poland were rested with Hendry, Andy Robertson, Ryan Jack, Lewis Ferguson and Stuart Armstrong all handed starting roles.
And yet even despite this raft of adjustments, Clarke’s line-up still looked well balanced and with no little talent in its key positions.
In fact, this was a selection which did not so much undermine Scotland’s chances of a result but, rather, underline all the good work Clarke has put in to building a squad which not only has the depth to cope at this level but also a system which enables his team to function almost regardless of the personnel within it.
A Scotland boss with the luxury of options?
He’s got such a good thing going here he might have found it difficult to look the less fortunate Franco Foda in the eye as the down on his luck Austrian boss took his team one last time before leaving his post by public demand.
That this fixture had a familiar, almost behind closed doors feel to it had nothing to do with Covid and everything to do with want rid – with the locals abandoning ship in their tens of thousands in order to show that Foda’s time in charge is done.
With less than 7000 inside this huge stadium – and a hefty chunk of them in kilts – it did feel like intruding on someone else’s pity party. But Clarke and his players had a job to do regardless.
In fact, McGinn could have had Scotland two goals up in the opening seven minutes just to put everyone out of their misery.
His first chance was cleverly crafted down the right by a sharp exchange between Nathan Patterson and Armstrong whose cross picked McGinn out on the penalty spot.
The Aston Villa man met it on the half volley but his crisp drive was well handled by former Kilmarnock keeper Daniel Bachmann.
Then McGinn worked a flashing one-two with Armstrong to open the Austrians up again but dragged a left foot effort wide of Bachmann’s right-hand post.
In between those glaring chances Craig Gordon pulled off a terrific reaction save to block a header from Sasa Kalajddzic with his left arm at point-blank range. It would be the first of a few.
In 13 minutes Gordon used his left boot to deny the same player as the Austrians rallied and the veteran keeper mustered another spectacular stop to keep out a thumping effort from Marko Arnautovic.
But, even despite this flurry of chances, it always felt as if Scotland were capable of breaking through at the other end.
The opening goal arrived in 28 minutes when Grant Hanley got on the end of McGinn’s inswinging corner to smash a header off the face of the bar only for Hendry to bundle it home at the back post.
It was another kick in the teeth to the Austrians who were actually doing a lot of fine, high-tempo work to remind their own people that they still have a more than decent team on their hands.
But when your luck’s out it’s hard to find a break.
And even when Arnautovic did manage to nudge the ball around the advancing Gordon towards an empty net shortly before half-time, he looked up to find Kieran Tierney racing back to clear off the line.
The home side were back out of the traps quickly in the second half too
but with each half chance that went begging, the more Arnautovic’s shoulders seemed to slump – which summed up the mood of his nation.
Scotland’s players, on the other hand, continued to close gaps, chase down scraps and snap into tackles.
It was as if they were almost revelling in doing the hard yards while waiting for the chance to set off on a counter- attack and land a knock-out blow.
And in 55 minutes they did exactly that, flooring the Austrians with a goal laced with punch.
It all came down the left with Robertson, Tierney and Armstrong combining in a surge of dark blue.
Robertson ended up sending Tierney to the byeline and the Arsenal man’s cut-back was fizzed into the feet of McGinn, who smashed a first-time effort into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
It was truly staggering stuff from the visitors.
Clarke immediately sent for fresh legs, replacing Jack, Patterson and Robertson with Scott McTominay, Stephen O’Donnell and Aaron Hickey. Lyndon Dykes then took over from Che Adams in attack.
But Austria pulled one back in 74 minutes when sub Michael Gregoritsch flashed a fine header home inside Gordon’s left hand post.
Then another reinforcement, Alessandro Schopf, lashed one in from 20 yards after some more frantic defending in Gordon’s box to earn a draw.
Scotland’s work here was done, avoiding defeat for an eighth successive game. Roll on the summer.
