The unequivocal Scotland message Andy Robertson delivered to teammate amid Tartan Army clamour

It would have capped off the perfect night for Andy Robertson.

Scotland were 1-0 up in Skopje against North Macedonia and searching for a killer, second goal. And when French ref Francois Letexier awarded them a second-half penalty after a VAR check for handball, there was only one man the Tartan Army wanted to take it.

They were singing his name from the moment the whistler pointed to the spot. On his landmark 100th appearance for his country, Robertson had a golden chance to grab the glory. But you know what? The fact that he didn’t sums up the Scotland skipper and why he’s been so successful in a dark blue shirt.

At that moment, it wasn’t about what the fans wanted. And he was certainly never going to make it all about him. All that mattered was that Scotland and Sebastien Pocognoli secured a vital Nations League victory.

That’s why Robertson was unequivocal in telling penalty-taker John McGinn just to concentrate on sticking it away, making it 2-0 - and sealing three points. The captain was delighted when his pal buried it from 12 yards and sent the Tartan Army home happy.

And he got his own personal ovation from the travelling support at the end who hailed him as a Scotland legend. Afterwards, Robertson said: “It was really special. They sang my name throughout the game. The only time I didn’t like it was when they sang my name at the penalty. I thought: ‘I’m not going anywhere near that’! I was probably telling them to be quiet at that point. I went over to McGinn and said: ‘You just focus on this penalty’!

“If we were 3-0 up, it might have been a different story. No, I was just glad he took it and secured a win. The ovation at the end, the way the fans cheered me, was something I will never forget. It was unbelievable, a really special feeling. The whole day was special. But we are footballers at the end of the day and we wanted to go and win the game to cap it off.

“I remember my first game as Scotland captain – we got beat 4-0 at home to Belgium and it didn’t feel very good. The players and the staff did a little presentation for me in the afternoon and gave me my cap. But my message was pretty clear – I just wanted us to go and win the game. And how we managed to win it was incredible. I thought the performance was excellent and it will be a night I’ll never forget.”

This wasn’t just another cap for Robertson. It was the night he joined King Kenny Dalglish in the 100-club and moved to within two of equalling the great man’s record tally. In the build-up to the North Macedonia game, his phone was red-hot with well wishes. But the most important thing to Robertson was ensuring new gaffer Pocognoli got his first win as Scotland boss.

He said: “My phone was a bit busier. Getting a presentation at lunchtime was a bit out of the normal. But I tried to treat it like a normal game because I wanted to get the win. Knowing the person I am, I don’t think I would have been in the same mood winning my 100th cap if we hadn’t got the result. Everyone and anyone got in touch. My phone has been really busy.

“The messages will always fly in when you achieve something like this. A lot of ex-team mates, managers and players I’m close to have been in touch with me. It has been nice to read all the messages, be a part of it and get the reception I got off all the players and the staff. The fans just topped it off at the end. That was a really emotional thing for me and I’m sure my family back home were emotional hearing it as well. There was a bit of everything, to be honest.

“I have always been one who wants to set the tone anyway. We were all determined to get the manager’s first win for him. We knew how important it was for him as a manager. We believed we should have got it against Slovenia because of the way we played.

"We then wasted it against Switzerland because of the circumstances. But with it being my 100th cap, I was probably more determined than ever. It was a good performance all round from the team and we capped it off with a win. It made it even more special on what was already a special day.”

Hard graft and humility have underpinned Robertson’s Scotland career so far. So it was typical of him that, even on his big night, he was still keen to praise one of his team-mates. McGinn overtook Jim Leighton in Skopje to become Scotland’s third all-time top cap holder on 92. After slotting home the penalty, he’s now the country’s fourth highest goalscorer.

And Robertson can’t wait to applaud his mate when he emulates him by reaching 100 caps himself. He said: “It shouldn’t be overshadowed (McGinn achievement). What John has done for this country has been unbelievable. For him to go up to third (in cap list) is just incredible. When we were young lads playing for Celtic and St Mirren at under-11 level we never thought that we would go on this mad journey.

“We both realised that we have now played 82 times together for Scotland together. It’s just crazy the number of times we have rolled out together. He is one of my closest friends in life, never mind football, and I’m incredibly proud of him. Maybe that was overshadowed a little bit on Saturday night but his day will come. He is now racing towards 100 as well. He will get every special accolade that he deserves when that day comes. And I will be stood at the front of the line when it happens.”