What questions face Pocognoli after Scotland defeat?

From the high of their first win under Sebastien Pocognoli in North Macedonia to the second Hampden low of his embryonic Scotland reign.

It has been a rollercoaster four-game start to the Belgian's reign as head coach.

His first international window ends not only with Scotland's hopes of topping their Nations League group and winning promotion to League A left in tatters.

They are also facing a tougher draw for the next European Championship after a probable third-place finish.

Suffering back-to-back competitive home defeats for the first time in seven years left BBC Scotland pundit Andy Halliday suggesting the "period of grace" granted for any new team boss is now over.

So what are the questions facing the 39-year-old for next month's two concluding games of the Nations League campaign?

Captain Andy Robertson suggested Scotland had been "outfought" while Pocognoli referenced not being strong enough in duels.

But was it as simple as that when fighting spirit is the least you expect from a footballer playing proudly for the national jersey?

For BBC Radio Scotland's pundits, it was more a case of Scotland simply being outplayed.

Former Heart of Midlothian and Rangers midfielder Halliday thought Slovenia were "really compact, really organised. Off the ball, on the ball, so energetic, so industrious, willing to run forward, willing to play forward."

Everything Scotland were not on the night.

Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton added: "Slovenia effectively critiqued and analysed Scotland from last week and have played them off the park."

For former Scotland defender Willie Miller, there was an element of both.

"In many departments, they were bullied, they were schooled in certain moments," he told Sportsound.

So was the defeat down to the system?

Pocognoli has been sticking to what is believed to be his preferred formation - three central defenders with two wing-backs playing high up the park.

Initially, it appeared to have teething problems in the first half of the goalless draw in Slovenia last month before an improved second half had many enthusing at the way they pressed forward and played on the front foot.

Judgement was suspended after the 3-0 home defeat by Switzerland given the circumstances of Jack Hendry's early red card, but the plaudits returned following a convincing 2-0 win in North Macedonia.

Now the concerns are back.

Neither Halliday nor Crichton are big fans of a back three and the Rangers Women head coach's main concern is how open it leaves Pocognoli's side out of possession, with Slovenia having again exposed the spaces behind the wing-backs.

Halliday, though, thinks "Sebastien Pocognoli's version of a back three out of possession is fairly positive".

"A lot of the time it is actually a back four when you see the wing-back essentially jumping as a winger and the other wing-back tucking in as a full-back," he said.

"My issue is more in possession, with the lack of penetration and runs in behind. If you play that box midfield and the amount of players Scotland play centrally then you have to be able to play through the centre of the pitch."

Miller wondered whether the defenders at Scotland's disposal are comfortable playing as a back three.

"You are asking the two wing-backs to be absolutely way up the park," he said.

"For me, the three centre-backs are exposed and don't know how to play the system.

"He's had time to work with the system, but it was just all over the place. It was unbelievably poor."

Central midfield has been Scotland's main area of strength for a number of years, but the latest showing featuring Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Ryan Christie left Halliday "so deflated".

"In terms of the shape, we have nine players centrally and got so dominated in the middle of the pitch for 90 minutes," he lamented. "I can't make sense of it.

"And that's down to Slovenia's movement, creating spaces for each other, but also how disjointed we were in terms of are we going to press, are we going to sit in our shape, are we going to try shadow passes into the midfielders?

"At no point did I think we were dialled into what we were trying to do.

"Off the ball, I do think in spells we've looked good under Pocognoli, but on the ball I'm still kind of struggling to see what we're meant to be.

"Are we a team that builds through the thirds? Are we a team that plays into the space? Are we a team that loads the wider areas and crosses into the box and floods the box?"

Crichton believes "about 50% of the team is capable of dominating the opposition" but suggests "if you don't have certain profiles" in other positions, the system breaks down.

"If you are not clinical up front and not ruthlessly defending your box, you are always going to be in a dogfight," she said.

"That's where Scotland find themselves more often than not."

Miller agreed, suggesting: "We were full of enthusiasm - front-foot football. But you've got to revisit it."

There was a clamour from fans and pundits alike to squeeze Ben Gannon-Doak into the starting XI given a couple of impressive cameos.

However, Crichton believes the wing-back position is not a comfortable fit for the young Bournemouth winger.

"I could tell within 10 minutes it wasn't going to be a good night for him because his first touch wasn't there," she said.

"Outwith his cross for the goal, his contribution was very minimal. For me, to have Aaron Hickey on the bench is astonishing because he is one of the top performers as an attacking full-back."

Therein lies the dilemma. It was Gannon-Doak's cross that led to Ryan Christie's goal and the 20-year-old has in recent games been highlighted as the one source of real pace and ability to break down a defence.

As Halliday suggests: "I don't see a successful Scotland without wingers on the pitch. I don't see us creating chances otherwise."

Scotland ended the game with wingers Josh McPake and Findlay Curtis - once Gannon-Doak had been withdrawn.

Much was made of Gilmour earning his 50th cap and Robertson reaching 100 in Skopje on Saturday, but even the stalwarts were being questioned in the aftermath of the latest defeat.

"At no point were John McGinn or Ryan Christie involved in the game," lamented Halliday, who hopes Scott McTominay's return from his minor heart operation will provide that extra spark in central midfield.

Crichton pondered whether there was too much loyalty being shown "to certain players who have been there for a long time".

Angus Gunn has made the goalkeeping jersey his own since Craig Gordon wound down his career, but the spotlight is again on the recent San Jose Earthquakes signing who was criticised for two of the goals previously lost to Switzerland.

"For me, a top goalkeeper saves that first goal," Halliday suggested. "It's not right in the corner. It's not hit with a lot of pace."

It all boils down to some hard thinking for Pocognoli as he prepares for next month's final Nations League games at home to North Macedonia and in Switzerland.

"I thought coming into this camp Sebastien Pocognoli would probably need a period of grace," Halliday said.

"I think that period of grace is now over. That was as poor a Scotland performance as I can remember for a while against an opposition you are expecting us to go and beat."

Crichton believes that Pocognoli will know that, unless he starts winning, "he's going to find himself under immense pressure and he will not get time to build a team".

Miller added: "It is very early in the new manager's reign and he is bringing younger players in.

"But, at the same time, we thought he was going to come in with a system he had perfected - that was the noises coming from Pocognoli.

"The question is, where do we go from here?"