There are results that arrive like a sigh of relief, and Scotland's trip to Skopje on Saturday evening was very much one of them. After the bruising of Tuesday's loss to Switzerland — a night on which Jack Hendry's red card derailed whatever Sébastien Pocognoli had been building — this was the kind of evening the new Scotland manager desperately needed. He got it, comfortably enough, though not without the odd frayed nerve along the way.

Kieron Bowie gave Pocognoli his first goal in charge inside seven minutes, and John McGinn's penalty doubled the advantage in the second half, as Scotland eased past a North Macedonia side that, frankly, offered precious little resistance. Pocognoli, the Belgian taking his first steps in international management, will know sterner tests are coming — but maiden victories matter, and this one was safely banked.

Bowie seizes his moment

The context around Bowie's selection was worth noting. After Hendry's dismissal on Tuesday meant Pocognoli had to reshuffle, Bowie was among those withdrawn. Keeping faith in the forward for this match was a small act of managerial conviction, and Bowie repaid it handsomely. Collecting Billy Gilmour's pass some 25 yards from goal, with a pair of defenders breathing down his neck, he showed remarkable composure — setting himself before driving a terrific left-foot strike past Stole Dimitrievski. Seven minutes played, job started.

The occasion carried added sentiment for Andy Robertson, winning his 100th cap, and the Tottenham full-back appeared to respond to criticism that has followed him in a dark blue shirt of late. Robertson was a persistent threat, forcing Dimitrievski into a fine early save. McGinn, too, has endured his share of scathing commentary from the terraces and beyond; his performance here was forceful enough to quiet at least some of those voices.

Ruthlessness remained elusive

Scotland's only frustration was an inability to finish the thing off with the clinical edge it deserved. Ben Gannon-Doak was presented with a clear opportunity shortly after the restart but shot tamely into the goalkeeper's hands. A penalty claim for the Bournemouth winger was correctly overturned by the VAR after replays showed he had trodden on a North Macedonia player rather than the other way around — a moment that summed up the slight scrappiness that lingered despite the overall control Scotland held.

When the penalty did arrive — Bojan Miovski penalised for blocking Bowie's shot with his arm after an earlier decision against McKenna was reversed — McGinn stepped up to stroke the ball low and hard into the net. It was his 22nd international goal, a tally bettered by only three Scotland players in history. A mark of the man.

Ryan Christie, introduced at the interval, added exactly the kind of composure and forward-thinking creativity the Scotland midfield had lacked. His partnership with McGinn looks promising, and it would be a significant surprise if Pocognoli does not hand Christie a starting berth when Slovenia visit Glasgow on Tuesday evening.

McKenna cloud over Slovenia trip

The one sour note came late. Scott McKenna collected a red card six minutes from time, and will now miss Tuesday's home fixture — a more demanding assignment than anything North Macedonia offered. Angus Gunn, whose place in goal had been questioned heading into this match, had so little to do that the debate feels largely academic for now.

Scotland remain alive in section B1 of the Nations League. Pocognoli has his first win, Bowie has announced himself, and Robertson has his century. But the manager is surely under no illusion: Slovenia at home represents a genuine measuring stick for what this side can actually become under his stewardship.

Frequently asked

Who scored for Scotland against North Macedonia?
Kieron Bowie opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and John McGinn added a second from the penalty spot in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory.
What Nations League group are Scotland in?
Scotland are competing in section B1 of the UEFA Nations League. Their next fixture is at home to Slovenia.
Who is Scotland's new manager and what is his record so far?
Sébastien Pocognoli, the Belgian, is Scotland's head coach. The win in North Macedonia was his first victory in the role, having previously drawn or lost in earlier matches including a defeat to Switzerland.