David Marshall admitted he was relieved when the lack of goal-line technology cost Cyprus an early lead before Scotland ran out winners in Nicosia yesterday.

Georgios Efrem’s strike beat the Scotland keeper before hitting the underside of the bar, bouncing over the line and then rebounding away from goal.

Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall has admitted his surprise that Cyprus' goal was not given

The Cypriot players celebrated but with no flag from the assistant referee Harald Lechner allowed play to continue.

Scotland cannot qualify for Euro 2020 through their group whatever the result of Tuesday’s home game with Kazakhstan but are guaranteed a second chance in the March play-offs.

Georgios Efrem, who later scored, thought he had netted the first goal after the ball his strike crossed the line

They soon took the lead through Ryan Christie’s stunning 12th-minute strike and although Efrem levelled in the 47th minute, John McGinn fired the winner six minutes later.

Wigan keeper Marshall said: ‘I must admit I thought they’d scored when the ball dropped. I guessed the ref had the watch on so, when he never gave it, I assumed it wasn’t in.

‘In the Championship, they have the watches that tell them straight away if it’s crossed the line but I don’t think he had one.’