Steve Clarke watched John McGinn lead Scotland to a glory night at Hampden - then urged him to do it all over again against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
Clarke ’s side turned in arguably the most complete performance of the manager’s time in charge as they romped to a 3-0 win over Ukraine and brushed aside the very team which ended their World Cup hopes here in June. The win means Scotland are now just two draws away from topping their Nations League group and securing a place in the play-offs for Euro 2024.
But, on a nervous night, the Ukrainians resisted Scotland’s onslaught for 70 minutes before stand-in skipper McGinn fired the stunning opening goal to break their dogged resistance. And the win was wrapped up by a late double from sub Lyndon Dykes. And Clarke beamed afterwards: “It was his 49th cap tonight and it’ll be his 50th on Saturday. So hopefully he can get another goal on his 50th.
“It took us longer than we thought to get the first goal tonight. We had some decent chances but when the first goal went in, John did what he does well. It was a good finish and from there you could see the belief and confidence grow.
“When you’re on the side of the pitch you know your team is creating chances you are just waiting and expecting one of them to go in. You’re creating good chances and you have belief. and trust in your players to take one of them. That’s what happened.
“‘We go away and rest and recover and get ready for a tough game against the Republic of Ireland at the weekend. Obviously we went out there in the summer and didn’t do ourselves justice. We want to do ourselves justice on Saturday.
“It is a step forward. I think everyone forgets how disappointed the players were in the summer. They wanted to show what they were about tonight, they wanted to win because they want to qualify for the A group. Tonight was the start hopefully of another good run of matches.”
Asked if he was glad his players have the chance to avenge another summer defeat against the Republic on Saturday he said: “Without being disrespectful I would rather play San Marino!"
Dykes put the icing on the cake with a late double to turn the victory into a romp - with two textbook headers from fellow sub Ryan Fraser corners. And Clarke smiled: “It is credit to the two players. Both of them probably had the hump with the head coach they didn’t start the game. That is what you want. It is always nice for the players to go on and prove a coach right – but I am not taking credit for it, it is down to the players.”
The 3-0 win means Scotland now need just two draws from their finals matches against Ireland on Saturday night and away to Ukraine in Krakow next Tuesday to claim top spot in Group B1. Topping the section will not just ensure a safetynet play-off shot at making it to the next European Championship finals in Germany in 2004 but also catapult Clarke’s side into the second pot of seeds for the tournament’s main qualification draw in Frankfurt on October 9.
But there was a hammer blow for Everton superkid Nathan Patterson who had to be carried off on a stretcher after suffering a horrible looking injury in the first half. With Celtic’s David Turnbull also returning to his club with an injury the Scotland boss may now have to call in reinforcements.
But first he’s hoping for some good news from the medics over Patterson’s condition. Clarke said: “Obviously we don’t know. He has to go away and get assessed. It does not look like a good one. Fingers crossed it is not too bad.”
