Issues which plagued the Clarke – who received rousing applause on his return to Hampden – of a lack of ruthlessness in attack and pitiful goalkeeping were on show.
Oli McBurnie has surpassed 1,000 minutes – 20 appearances – in a Scotland shirt without a goal. Sure, he registered his first assist – after a fashion – but appetite and workrate being his only qualities is wearing thin.
As is the ease Scotland are being played through at the minute. With 10 men against Switzerland, it could be somewhat expected, but the Slovenes are hardly world-beaters themselves. Scotland made them look like it.
Things were always going to be learned in this mammoth window. Perhaps most of all, is it is clear Scotland are in a state of flux. Flittering between old habits which got them so far, and teetering on the transition into the new, brave, promised world.
For the first time in his tenure, Pocognoli headed off to the sound of Tartan Army boos. Unless he can come up with a solution, and swiftly, for November, it will become a more familiar soundtrack for the Belgian.