A FIRST-HALF Stuart Armstrong double and strikes from John McGinn and Che Adams in the second ensured Scotland bounced back from their weekend mauling by the Republic of Ireland with an emphatic victory over Armenia in Yerevan tonight.
The national team, whose manager Steve Clarke had come under pressure following the defeats to Ukraine in the Qatar 2022 play-off semi-final earlier this month and Ireland on Saturday, fell behind in the sixth minute when Vahan Bichakhchyan scored.
But Armstrong soon restored parity in the Nations League match in the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium and put his side 2-1 ahead in added on time at the end of the opening 45 minutes after Arman Hovvhanniysan had been sent off for a head butt on John McGinn.
McGinn and Adams got their names on the scoresheet within eight minutes of play restarting and Scotland recorded a comfortable and much-needed victory which keeps alive their hopes of topping Group B1 and securing a Euro 2024 play-off spot.
The softness of the goals that Scotland had conceded against Ireland three days ago had been alarming. But there was no tangible improvement early on this evening. The opener was the result of a catalogue of errors.
Grant Hanley should have put the ball out for a throw in when he was attempting to halt Tigran Barseghyan wide on the left touchline. But he failed to do so and his opponent jinked forward and cut inside into the penalty area.
Hanley’s fellow centre backs Jack Hendry and Scott McTominay both, for reasons best known to themselves, stood off the midfielder who squared to Bichakhchyan in the six yard box. His team mate had the simplest of tasks to side foot beyond Craig Gordon.
Manchester United player McTominay was badly at fault for failing to block the near post; he looked very much like a midfielder playing out of position at centre half.
The travelling supporters who had made the long journey to Yerevan must have feared that a re-run of the weekend horror show was on the cards. But the visitors kept their cool and deservedly drew level just eight minutes later.
Hendry picked out Adams with chip and the striker controlled the ball and attempted an overhead kick. He miscued his effort, but Armstrong, who had replaced Ryan Christie in the starting line-up, burst forward and made no mistake.
It was the Southampton man’s first goal for his country since a Euro 2020 qualifier against San Marino at Hampden back in 2019. His return to the scorehseet was timely.
However, the equaliser did nothing to lift Scotland or deflate Armenia. Quite the opposite was the case in fact. McGinn, who donned the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Andy Robertson, and his team mates were highly fortunate not to fall behind for a second time.
Khoren Bayramyan had the ball in the net four minutes later only for Montenegrin referee Nikola Dabanovic to disallow it for offside following a VAR check. It was the correct decision. Still, the ease with which the winger got forward was worrying.
Hendry made a crucial clearance just as Barsegyhan was poised to shoot as he lay on the turf after Bayramyan had chipped over the heads of the three man backline. Eduard Spertsyan got a follow-up shot away, but failed to find the target.
Adams has been a shadow of the player who scored against Moldova and Denmark in Qatar 2022 qualifyers earlier this season in this international break. But he fired just wide from distance and came close to chipping goalkeeper David Yurchenko as Scotland rallied slightly.
Then Hovvhanniysan had his moment of madness. He scythed down Nathan Patterson as the right wing back burst upfield. McGinn squared up to the defender and made his unhappiness at the shocking challenge clear. His rival head butted him just a couple of yards away from the match official.
He could have been shown straight red cards for either incident. But Dabanovic brandished two yellow cards in quick succession and Armenia were reduced to 10 men. They fell behind just two minutes later following a well-worked Scotland attack.
McGregor and McGinn combined to supply Armstrong and their team mate took two touches inside Varazdat Haroyan before firing into the bottom right corner. It was a stunning finish which further justified his selection ahead of Christie.
Fans favourite McGinn has not been his usual self in front of goal this month. He spurned gilt-edged opportunities against both Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland. But he atoned for those misses by bagging Scotland's third five minutes into the second-half.
Grag Taylor overlapped down the left before sending a cross in to the far post. Patterson met the delivery first time and fed McGinn. The Aston Villa man controlled the pass and then spun and fired into the bottom left corner.
Adams got in on the act three minutes later after being sent through on goal by Armstrong. He had much swork to do and showed great composure to cut inside Styopa Mkrtchyan and then beat Yurchenko.
With Scotland three goals ahead and victory assured, Clarke made a triple substitution. He took off McGinn, Patterson and Billy Gilmour and put on David Turnbull, Anthony Ralson and Lewis Ferguson respectively. Jacob Brown took over from Adams in the closing stages and Allan Campbell came on for Hanley late on.
Armenia skipper Kamo Hovvhanisyan was red carded in the final minute for a shocking challenge on Ferguson as tempers flared. But nothing could take the shine off a hugely satisfactory night for Scotland.
