City full-back Andrew Cave-Brown suffered a double blow yesterday after he was dropped from the starting eleven for Scotland's 2-0 defeat against Nigeria ? a result which leaves the Scots all but eliminated from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
The 18-year-old starlet was one of four casualties from the disappointing 3-1 defeat to Japan on Sunday but Ezekiel Bala's double gave Nigeria a deserved victory as Scotland slumped to consecutive defeats at the finals in Canada.
After a final appearance in last summer's Under-19 European Championships, many fancied Tommy Wilson's boys to make a real impression this time around, but their second defeat in four days means they now need a miracle to qualify.
They must beat Costa Rica and hope other results go their way, but whichever way you look at it, it would be a real surprise to see the Scots competing in the latter stages.
It was Scotland's Andrew McNeil who was the busier keeper in the early moments of last night's encounter with a couple of fine saves to deny Brown Ideye.
However, the reorganised Scots created the first real chance. The ball broke to Ross Campbell inside the box, but Nigeria keeper Olufemi Thomas saved the striker's effort well from a difficult angle.
Hibernian stopper McNeil ? who was under fire following his nervy performance against the Japanese on Sunday – once more looked uncertain as Nigeria started to dominate possession, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself with a superb save moments later.
Brown Ideye, who scored the only goal of Nigeria's opening win over Costa Rica, was found unmarked 10 yards out only for McNeil to claw the striker's header wide.
With the Africans enjoying more and more of the play, it was only a matter of time before they opened the scoring and they broke the deadlock three minutes after the break when Kevin Cuthbert failed to clear and Bala struck a powerful shot through the keeper's legs from 16 yards.
Bala and Ewa Echiejile both fired into the side-netting as Nigeria continued to dominate.
But Scotland squandered a great chance when a Cuthbert cross was headed over the crossbar by Adams with Robert Snodgrass in a far better position to score.
The Scots were to rue that miss though and the contest was effectively over on 78 minutes when McNeil could only parry an Akeem Latifu effort and Bala scored on the rebound.
Scotland at last applied some pressure once Nigeria were reduced to 10 men a few minutes later; Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but it was too little, too late.
Thomas twice denied Lee Wallace from close range, while substitute Dorrans hooked wide.
But the African side held out for their second win of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Cave-Brown has revealed that if his big Canary chance doesn't come soon, then he would welcome a loan move to his mother's homeland.
With the arrival of ex-Liverpool full-back Jon Otsemobor at Carrow Road this summer, the Gravesend-born defender will have to play second fiddle for a while and he feels a temporary move to the SPL could benefit all parties.
City chief Peter Grant has long since lamented the reserve team setup at this level and like Joe Lewis and the Jarvis brothers last year, he could look to send Cave-Brown to pastures new to gain some valuable first-team experience.
“In August, I'll be 19 and I'm hoping to push on this season,” said Cave-Brown.
“Last year was going really well until I got injured for four or five months which set me back quite a way. But I'm looking for this season to be a bit of a springboard and, if I can't get involved at Norwich, maybe I can get a loan deal somewhere.
“I was speaking to Robert Snodgrass the other day and he was asking me if I would come to Scotland on loan and, although I'd have to ask my gaffer, it is something I would seriously consider.
“I'd like to get out and play some league football and the SPL definitely appeals,” said the teenager.
“The reserve league down south isn't that good because the set-up has changed and we now don't get to play against any of the Premiership teams.
“If I could go and test myself in the SPL, it would be really good.”
Tom Haylett
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