Jack Hendry is adamant Scotland will keep going for it in Krakow. And the defender hopes his partnership with Scott McKenna can provide the platform for his team to at least make their point in Poland.
Steve Clarke’s team head into their showdown against Ukraine knowing that a draw will be enough to seal their place as Nations League Group B1 winners. However, the squad knows playing just to avoid defeat is a dangerous game and they will head into action intent on winning. Hendry, who scored the crucial equaliser against Republic of Ireland, said: “We only needed a point on Saturday, but we didn’t have that sort of mentality.
“We wanted to win the game and it will be the same on Tuesday. We go into the game in Poland and we want another three points. We have good momentum and we want to keep that up. You can’t go into a game looking for a draw, so we are going for the win. It is in our hands at the minute and we want to try to make the most of this opportunity to finish top of the group and get into Pot A.”
Despite their intent, there is the obvious knowledge that a clean sheet will be enough to get the job done. Hendry and McKenna have performed well in the wins over Ukraine and the Irish. The duo are growing game-by-game and, if Clarke again gives them the nod, the Cremonese ace believes they will stand strong. Hendry said: “Scotty and I played together a few years ago and I think we have a good connection.
“We play together well and know each other’s strengths and I like playing with him. He’s in the English Premier League, so he has come on leaps and bounds and I enjoy playing with him.”
Hendry has every reason to be confident going into the tie after a superb performance at both ends of the pitch in the weekend win. The defender broke forward and helped instigate the move which ended with him headed home Ryan Christie’s cross to equalise.
Hendry said: “I followed my run as we had momentum and I got into the box and, thankfully, Ryan picked me out and I got on the end of it. It was a good point to get a goal and it changed the momentum of the game towards us.”
Hendry then returned to his normal beat and made blocks at the other end to maintain parity before Christie won it from the spot. The defender battled with fire and his commitment was typified when involved in a bust-up at the end which resulted in a post-match booking.
Hendry enjoyed the feisty joust and said: “It was a good game and I thought both teams went for the win and it was very competitive. It always is when it is Scotland against Ireland and, thankfully, we came out on top.
“Ireland made it difficult for us, especially in the first half. But we spoke at half-time about how we could hurt them and we did that in the second. We did well to get the win in the end.”
The tempo of the contest was a contrast from a typical match in Serie A and Hendry added: “It is a bit different as the game is maybe a bit more frantic and end to end. The game was open at times but it was a good spectacle for the fans to watch and it would have got them off their seat at times. Ireland made it difficult for us, but we came out on top.”
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