Source: Team_Talk
Peat points finger at Iwelumo
The Scots head into their last two qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland at Hampden needing maximum points to have a realistic hope of securing a play-off spot and ending their lengthy exile from major tournaments.
The pressure on manager George Burley has escalated in the wake of last month's 4-0 defeat in Norway but, as far as Peat is concerned, the damage was done in the previous meeting with the Scandinavians at Hampden almost a year ago.
That match ended in a goalless stalemate after debutant Iwelumo fired wide of a gaping net from a few yards out within minutes of coming off the bench.
"Everybody is going berserk about the performance in Norway and everybody knows the performance in Norway wasn't good," Peat said.
"But what they tend to forget is that had a certain individual not missed an open goal at Hampden in the first match against Norway, we would have been three points ahead regardless and the same pressure wouldn't have been on us.
"Everybody is dwelling on the last match and we all know we didn't play well.
"But had we scored a goal in the home match and ended up with a victory, we would have been three points ahead of Norway today."
Peat's comments appeared to be attempt to deflect criticism away from Burley and he has now called upon the nation to throw their backing behind the management team as they head into the crucial double-header.
"It's extremely important," he said.
"These results are vital from our point of view.
"Although we could maybe depend on Norway slipping up and still ending up second in the group, we don't want to do that.
"We want to do it off our own back and we are optimistic we can do that."
However, Peat refused to be drawn on Burley's future and whether he expects to see a change of management if Scotland do fail to secure second place in Group Nine and a play-off spot.
"I don't want to make any comment at all about that," he said.
"When George Burley took over we agreed that, after the World Cup situation was finished, we would sit down and have a discussion and we will do that.
"What we wanted was to qualify for the World Cup, that was the first target.
"George might not be happy when we sit down so we review it from both sides to see whether he is happy with the set-up and whether we are happy with the set-up and that's what we will do."
Peat has expressed surprise at comments made by goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who questioned whether there would be an outcry if a Scotland player resorted to simulation to earn a World Cup play-off spot.
He also claimed Arsenal striker Eduardo's two-match ban for diving against Celtic was worth it after helping the Gunners into the group stages of the Champions League.
"I was surprised at what Craig said," said Peat.
"Everybody wants to eradicate it, no-one has any time for it in the game.
"It's cheating by any manner of means and we would like to win any match fairly.
"I know what he's saying but we should try to eradicate it."
