BBC Sport pundits slam Everton ace Nathan Patterson live on air in Scotland clash v Georgia
Steve Clarke’s side drew 2-2 in their group stage clash on Thursday (16 November), with Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring both goals for the hosts as Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland netted for the visitors.
But BBC Sport pundits Willie Miller and Craig Levein were not pleased with Patterson’s handling of the Georgia attacker’s second of the night.
“Patterson has got to keep him on the outside,” Levein said live on BBC Sportsound (6.18pm, 16 November).
Miller then interjected: “The left-hand side yes, keep him on the outside. John McGinn is there, push him onto McGinn. He goes by two of them with ease and strikes it low.”
Levein then replied: “These situations are very clear. They know he’s right footed, so keep him on his left.
And also, to score a goal by going down the line, he’s got to provide a good cross and they need a good finish, so there are two actions that have to happen if he shows him on the outside.
“If he shows him the inside, which he did, the goal opened up and he can just strike it into the bottom corner. He’s got to keep him on the outside. I am critical of Patterson, but at the same time it’s a wonderful goal.”
Everton youngster Patterson was always going to be in for a tough night given that he was part of a defence that were trying to keep one of the best talents in world football quiet.
Napoli ace Kvaratskhelia was in lethal form in the final third, twisting and turning Patterson and his international teammates in an all-round superb display.
Patterson may just point to the fact that he hasn’t exactly been playing much football lately, with Sean Dyche handing the right-back just one minute in each of the club’s last two matches.
Veteran Ashley Young has been in the starting XI ahead of the Scot, who could be pushed further down the pecking order upon the return of the injured Seamus Coleman.
Toffees boss Dyche may just have been watching over his young defender, who did at least put him some dangerous deliveries at the other end of the pitch.
Some game time may just give the right-back some confidence when he heads back to Goodison Park at the end of the current international break.
