Those with pitchforks pointing in the direction of Steve Clarke could barely have enjoyed this. There was no unwanted making of history, no fifth defeat in succession. The run of form extended to one win in 16 games but the attitude displayed by the hosts on Glasgow’s south side was of one fully committed to their manager.

Cristiano Ronaldo was denied a 134th international goal. In truth, he never really looked like collecting it. Scotland will take great heart from the small step made here. Not only did they scrap in a form which has made this team so generally successful but had a level of organisation which owes plenty to effective coaching. Clarke’s detractors should take note. Ronaldo left the field in an agitated state.

Ronaldo-mania had gripped Paisley – where Portugal trained on Monday – and their hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond. Ronaldo had looked content to accommodate the masses.

The sight of Scottish youngsters in Ronaldo strips at Hampden Park emphasised the theory this was no ordinary fixture. The 39-year-old had never played at this venue before; the Nations League allowed him to follow in the footsteps of Pele, Maradona, Puskas and Beckenbauer by taking to the Hampden pitch.

Roberto Martínez spoke of managing Ronaldo’s minutes before this tie but picked him to spearhead the Portuguese attack. Were the Scots not so desperately in need of an upward trajectory, they could have appreciated the moment.

Another former Manchester United player should have opened the scoring inside four minutes. Instead, Scott McTominay planted a free header from Andy Robertson’s cross straight into the hands of Diogo Costa. It felt like the kind of opportunity Scotland can scarcely afford to waste.

Scotland’s issue in the opening half hour was the concession of more free-kicks than would ordinarily be healthy within 30 yards of their own goal. Yet the visitors were wasteful until a dipping set play from Nuno Mendes forced Craig Gordon into action.

This had quickly developed into a scrappy, tight affair. Hampden was reduced to laughter as Ronaldo and Mendes botched another free-kick between them; it was already that kind of evening.

McTominay’s chance proved the only clear one of the first period. For all Portugal’s dominance of possession, Scotland could take heart that Ronaldo was dropping deeper and deeper to try and influence proceedings.

The applause which met the half-time whistle was in response to another heartening 45 Scottish minutes in a Nations League campaign that had been bruising in respect of results.

Ronaldo’s header cleared Gordon’s bar, two minutes into the second half, after the Portugal captain met Diogo Jota’s cross. Francisco Conceição’s shot suffered an identical fate. Martínez had clearly used the break to impress on his team that they had to be more creative. Scotland had been in this movie before – several times recently, in fact, and had to beware of post-interval capitulation.

The sight of Bruno Fernandes shanking a corner against the near post and out of play was Martínez’s trigger for change. Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão and Ruben Neves entered the fray. Ronaldo, who had not been particularly effective at anything beyond remonstrations towards the referee, was spared. Portugal were banking on their talisman reverting to international type.

With 20 minutes to play, Portugal were essentially camped inside Scotland’s half. Clarke had called upon Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan to provide fresh energy in the final third but this was all about resilience. Plus, of course the question of whether Portugal could continue in such blunt style.

Scotland almost showed Ronaldo and co how to do it. Anthony Ralston’s cross narrowly evaded the marauding McTominay. From the resultant muddle, Portugal cleared. Ronaldo’s next act was to slam a shot wide as Scotland appealed in vain that he had handled when controlling the ball.

The vehement complaints of Rúben Dias – Portugal were seeking a corner that was not awarded – epitomised growing frustration. Gordon intensified it, courtesy of a wonderful save to prevent Fernandes from opening the scoring, three minutes from time, after buildup work from Leão. The Tartan Army breathed.

By full-time they heralded Clarke and his exhausted players. It is only a point; the nature of how it was achieved just felt wholly significant.