Craig Levein has been in charge of Scotland for almost three years, but TEAMtalk feels his time could be up after the 1-1 draw with Macedonia.

The day started for Scottish sport with Andy Murray beating Novak Djokovic in five sets at Flushing Meadows to claim his first major, the US Open.

It ended in game, set and match, probably, for Scotland's 2014 World Cup qualifying hopes following a dismal 1-1 draw with Macedonia at Hampden.

The common consensus was that six points were needed from the opening double-header at home, but the goalless draw against Serbia on Saturday leaves Craig Levein's side with just two.

In a group that includes Belgium and Croatia - Wales look like being also rans after opening with two defeats - it will need a football miracle to take the Scots to Rio.

The boos and jeers which rang out around Hampden at full-time signalled the fans' disgruntlement and confirmed that Levein is now a man under pressure.

The 47-year-old Fifer's record as national boss, three wins in nine competitive matches prior to Tuesday night's match, is at odds with his assertion that his squad and team are improving.

Promises of jam tomorrow have wore thin, the Tartan Army have grown weary of the stodge today.

Next month's double-header away to Wales and Belgium could finish the former Scotland defender off.

The mention of Murray's achievement over the PA system beforehand elicited huge cheers from the fans.

To set the night up further, Kenny Dalglish received a commemorative cap by UEFA in recognition of being the first Scottish player to win 100 caps.

It was a stark reminder to the fans of the halcyon days when Scotland would regularly qualify for the finals of major competitions.

What followed revealed how far as a football nation the Scots have fallen.

There had been a flatness inside the stadium ahead of and during the draw with Serbia, despite a crowd of around 48,000, but ahead of the Macedonia match, the air was heavy with nervous tension which soon gave way to anxiety as the Scots struggled for most of the first half.

Before the game Levein told those frustrated fans who had chanted for £8million Blackburn new boy Jordan Rhodes to come off the bench against Serbia with around half an hour to play - he was eventually given 10 minutes - that he, and not they, would pick the team.

To that end, veteran striker Kenny Miller, 32, with 61 caps, who was replaced by Rhodes, was again asked to play the solo forward role in the manager's favoured 4-1-4-1 formation.

He repaid his manager's faith in him by scoring the equaliser just before the break, but not before Macedonia had startled the home fans with pace and precision and no little skill.

The two countries had met before in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Macedonia winning 1-0 in Skopje in 2008 with Scotland triumphing 2-0 at Hampden a year later.

The visitors had improved markedly and deserved to take the lead in the 11th minute when Ivan Trickovski's low cross was slid in by Nikolche Noveski.

Just before the break, Miller gave the fans some hope when he scored from close range after being set up Jamie Mackie, but the second half proved to be a damp squib with the visitors looking the more likely to score.

The closest the Balkans came was when substitute Ferhan Hasani rattled the post with a powerful drive.

Later, with the game stretched, the Scotland defence was again unlocked with ease by the wonderfully talented Goran Pandev, but Allan McGregor saved the day once more with a great save from Mirko Ivanovski.

But the efforts of the Besiktas keeper are likely to be academic.

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup finals in France. It will be a while longer before they are on a big stage again.

Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport