GORDON STRACHAN is getting sacked in the morning. That was the proclamation of England’s 6000 fans as the Scotland manager stood on his own. A lone figure at the edge of his technical area, 15 minutes left.

Fifteen minutes left of a game that had threatened to just be out of reach for vast spells. Fifteen minutes left of a real hope of qualification for the next World Cup. Fifteen minutes left from a tenure that, for the most part, had provided hope of a new dawn as bright as the Hampden sunshine which cast a lengthy shadow behind Strachan here.

How many of those possible outcomes listed above will come to fruition remains to be scene, a fact that will make the goading coming from the travelling support to his left nothing more than a twist to the knife already inserted by Gareth Southgate’s team in Glasgow during the dying moments of this 2-2 draw.

Strachan will not be sacked in the morning. Nor will he be sacked the following morning. It would have been almost impossible to comprehend that, as he held court in a Wembley corridor after Scotland’s 3-0 defeat in November, his future as national manager could be just as secure as ever. The same could perhaps be said as the clock ticked down perilously in front of a less than half full Hampden. That was before Coldplay’s front man saved him. In truth, time looked up for Strachan.

Little over 14 minutes after the chants surely rang through his ears, Strachan was boisterously scurrying down the touchline. Not quite at the same rate as he did when he was once wore the dark blue himself, but this time his suit jacket waved in the wind as he galloped into the sunshine along with Leigh Griffiths.

It is a game of fine margins. One Chris Martin sclaffed shot back in March and Strachan may well have been out of a job. The fact Harry Kane punctured what would have been one of the all-time Scotland victories is a matter which will needle the 60-year-old in the days to come as the landscape of the weekend’s results becomes clear. As too will the soft goals which robbed Scotland of glory here.

What is evident, though, is that Strachan has done enough to be given the time and respect to see out this campaign, and attempt to finish what was started a campaign over four years ago. Doesn’t time fly when you’re at the end of your rope?

Against the mighty England, Strachan got his tactics spot on. A back-three may have caused the odd press man to pass out an hour beforehand, but it was effective within seconds. Kieran Tierney tucking in as a makeshift ball-playing centre-half was inspired, and it allowed Scotland to compete in the midfield, if looking ever so painfully slow on the counter attack.

England got to grips with this unusual 3-2-4-1 formation and yes, Scotland rode their luck. Something that wasn’t helped by a below-par Robert Snodgrass, a half-crocked James Morrison or an exposed and slightly started Ikechi Anya. The latter may have had something to do with the former. But Strachan responded, brought on James McArthur, debutant Ryan Fraser and the game turned. A foothold was regained, a pace was restored to the Scots counter and Hampden hoped again.

They should know by now that’s what kills you.

A 2-2 draw with England will not kill Scotland’s hopes. Nor will it cost Strachan his job. If anything, it should demonstrate the exact opposite.