Shaun Maloney is keeping his fingers crossed he will be credited with the goal which gave Scotland a hard-fought 1-1 European Championship qualifying draw against Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Moments into the second half at the Aviva Stadium, with the home side leading through a Jon Walters goal, the 32-year-old Chicago Fire forward, who scored in the 1-0 win for the Scots when the two sides met at Celtic Park in November, levelled with a shot which deflected in off Irish skipper John O’Shea.
Maloney scored a double in the 6-1 qualifying win over Gibraltar at Hampden in March.
He was also involved in the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win over Georgia at Ibrox last October when his shot was saved but then struck Akaki Khubutia to spin into the net for an own goal, and he is “very hopeful” he would be given a second goal against the Irish, who remain two points behind the Scots.
He said: “At the time it felt like my goal. Fingers crossed.
“I was unsure it was (on target).
“I hit and I knew it took a deflection but I am not overly worried.
“It was a big moment in the game. It was a bit of joy, a bit of relief, all sort of mixed into one.
“It meant the world to me. It means everything for me to play here and to see the ball go in the back of the net, these moments are very special.”
Russell Martin claimed Ireland midfielder James McCarthy expected to see red instead of yellow after the challenge in the first half which left the Scotland defender receiving treatment for a nose injury, which was covered by a small plaster when he emerged into the media mixed-zone after the game.
The Norwich defender said: “He caught me with some part of his arm.
“He said it was accidental, he has apologised, so it’s fine.
“When he saw the referee branding a card I think he said that he thought it might be a red but fortunately for him and Ireland, it was a yellow, not so fortunate for us.
“I don’t know (if he should have been sent off) I would have to see it again.
“I wasn’t happy about at the time but that’s football, but he apologised so we move on.”