The fact his team have taken only two points from their opening two home games has not rattled the national team boss, because Scotland are within two points of the leaders, Belgium, Serbia and Croatia.

Levein does admit, though, he is disappointed his side could not beat Macedonia, nor cope with their counter-attacking style.

But he said: "You will see from the last two games that this group is going to be really tight, indeed. You look at the table, and it [last night's draw] doesn't look damaging at all.

"There are 24 points to play for, and let's see what happens come the final total rather than try to guess where we are going to be at the end.

"We would rather be on four points, but what is done is done, and the important thing now is picking up points in our next match."

Levein hopes to have Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher available for that game in Wales on October 12, and continued: "I don't know how many points we will need to qualify.

"What I do know is that we have got players to come back who will make the team stronger, particularly in the midfield area, one place where I feel we are toiling a little bit.

"I'm very positive about where we're going. I look at the situation in the group just now, and it isn't as bad as people might make out."

Asked if he remained confident of qualifying, Levein answered: "Yes I am. We are two points behind, and, for me, there is no need to get worried about the situation we are in just now."

The fans who booed at full-time, as they did after the weekend draw with Serbia, might take some convincing of that.

But Levein said: "I thought the fans were great throughout the game. If, at the end, they vented their frustration by booing, I completely understand that.

"We didn't quite get our game going in an attacking sense, and losing the first goal put us on the back foot. It was a bit of a struggle after that. But all credit to the players, they kept trying their hardest."

Macedonia coach, Cedomir Janevski, revealed he was disappointed only to take a draw from Hampden. He said: "It's a pity we don't go back to Skopje with three points because we had two or three good opportunities to score. The fact Allan McGregor was named man-of-the-match says it all."

Asked about Scotland's chances of qualifying, Janevski said: "With eight games to go, everything is possible. But, from two games at home, you expect more than two points."

Former Scotland boss Walter Smith was also less than excited by the Scots' performance.

"Craig has given the players every confidence he can give them," he said. "You read him in the newspapers and he is very positive – but that didn't transpire into the performance.

"There has to be a better mental strength from the players towards having to play the game at home and impose themselves. But it is as much working with the mind as anything else.

"Managers have to find a way to win. Everyone always looks at the tactical aspect of the game and say we don't do this, we don't do that.

"I will stick up for a manager but it can't all be placed on his shoulders."