VAR CHECK WENT TO THE MAX FOR SCOT

Johnston was wobbling

- By Michael Robertson

NE minute in Copenhagen felt like a lifetime for Max Johnston who was at serious risk of being sent off.

The Brentford man had already been booked and was left with his heart in his mouth after using an arm to get his first touch of the ball and sparking a VAR review which - had it gone wrong - could have been a hammer blow for Scotland's World Cup dream.

The former Motherwell full back was still traumatised as he spoke about it at the team's base camp in Denmark.

"Oh God. When it went to VAR my legs turned to jelly." Johnston smiled.

"I didn't think it was a red card myself but I am just so happy VAR saw it that way too.

"I got a wee nudge in the back. I jumped and was pushed while I was in the air. The ball hit me on my sleeve.

"I had just come on, so it was difficult but you have to put it behind you and I thought I managed to do that.

"But when it went to VAR I was thinking to myself: 'You've got to be joking - I'm just on!'.

The player who shoved Johnston into such a perilous position was a former team mate and friend at Sturm Graz - former Motherwell striker Mika Biereth.

And Johnston could hardly believe his ears as Biereth screamed at German ref Daniel Siebert to turn yellow into red.