Austria v Scotland predictions: Steve Clarke's boys lack a goalscoring touch

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier between Austria and Scotland in Vienna

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 7.45pm, Tuesday

Best bet

Austria & under 3.5 goals
1pt 13-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Austria
Julian Baumgartlinger pulled out with a knee injury last week and Marcel Sabitzer is out with a groin problem.

Scotland
Ryan Fraser, Kenny McLean and Nathan Patterson have all been ruled out. Hibs defender Paul McGinn has been added to the squad.

Match preview

Scotland's trip to Austria always looked like having a huge bearing on their chances of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

But the Austrians' surprise 5-2 loss to Israel on Friday means it looks a tight three-way battle for second place in Group F, which would earn a playoff place for the chance to reach next year's finals in Qatar.

Hopes of either of them winning the section look remote as Denmark have won all five of their games, but that runners-up berth is up for grabs and victory in Vienna would be a huge boost for Steve Clarke's side, particularly as Israel head to Hampden Park next month.

However, while a great opportunity exists, there is a nagging doubt whether Scotland are equipped to take advantage of it.

The Tartan Army will have had a taste of life back in major finals after their penalty-shootout win over Serbia that earned them a place at Euro 2020.

But they have posted just three victories in their 12 games since that memorable night and those came against the Faroe Islands, Luxembourg and Moldova, who they saw off 1-0 a few days ago.

They have scored more than once in just three of their last 18 matches and a solitary victory has been earned in their last eight away games.

Their humbling defeat in Haifa will have come as a shock to Austria, but they have a solid home record, having lost just twice in their last 11 games on their own patch, so surely Franco Foda will get a grip of his defence after that result.

Austria were denied by a late John McGinn strike when the pair meet earlier in qualifying, so that missed opportunity may be fresh in their minds too as they take stock of how their qualification campaign has reached a crossroads.

And that 2-2 was a rarity in Scotland's recent history as both teams have scored in just three of their last 12 outings.

So there may not be many goals in this one and there seems more reason to back the home side to get the job done, particularly as in former West Ham fan favourite Marko Arnautovic and Hoffenheim forward Christoph Baumgartner, they have the richer striking resources.

Just as the door have been pushed open a touch, Scotland could just find it slammed in their faces and they could soon be back up against it again.

Key stat

Just one of Scotland's last six games has featured more than two goals

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