- Duncan Ferguson held his own against Roy Keane in ITV’s studio.
- Ferguson broke ranks alone to back Scott McTominay’s strong penalty shout.
- Their lighter exchange over John McGinn showed two old rivals mellowing.
Duncan Ferguson spent the best part of a decade making opposing centre-halves regret getting out of bed. Watching him share an ITV sofa with Roy Keane, that same refusal to back down was still there – just aimed at arguments now instead of elbows (and foreheads).
As the lone Scottish voice in the studio for Scotland’s 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the World Cup, Ferguson had every reason to be downbeat. Instead, he was the panel’s most willing arguer and did himself and his country proud.
The flashpoint came over Scott McTominay’s penalty shout. Ange Postecoglou, the evening’s third pundit, and Keane waved it away without much debate, with Keane flatly denying that it was a penalty.
Big Dunc wasn’t having it, insisting the referee had a duty to point to the spot. There was enough contact there to have VAR take a longer look, and, as ever, it bothered him not one bit to be the one disagreeing with two more experienced pundits.
There was a lighter side, too. When Keane’s old line about John McGinn resembling a pub player on his off days got dragged back up, it could have been awkward.
Dunc didn’t pile on, and Keane handled it well himself, making clear it was said with no edge. Watching two who never backed down from anyone laugh that one off together said more about how much they’ve both mellowed than anything either of them said about the football.
Big Dunc shines … in his own inimitable way
Even the throwaway stuff worked in Big Dunc’s favour. His gentle jab at Mark Pougatch over an England-related aside was sharper than most ex-pros manage live on air.
He’s not just got opinions, bless him – he’s happy to back them up, sat right next to Keane, and that’s been the best thing about his punditry so far in this World Cup.
He only had one slight disagreement with Ange. At halftime, Dunc insisted that Scotland, after an improved last 15 minutes, were ‘back in the game.’ The Australians’ retort, ‘I’d say they’re just hanging on, Dunc’, was accepted by the great man.
Is he the most polished voice in that studio? Not yet, and he’d probably be the first to admit it.
But polish was never really Duncan Ferguson’s game, on the pitch or off it. What he brought last night was conviction, and arguing your corner against Keano takes some nerve. Fair play to them all. A point each … which is more than what Scotland earned.
