After Scotland’s impressive performance at Hampden, the message from captain and manager was unanimous. “The summer hurt us badly,” said John McGinn, with Steve Clarke adding that “the players hurt more than anybody”.
Wednesday’s Nations League clash with Ukraine wasn’t just about leapfrogging the top of Group B1. It was also about proving that Scotland is a team that can bounce back. And, boy, did they manage it.
Three months after a hopeful World Cup play-off defeat, the Scots turned the tables on the same opposition with a stunning 3-0 win at Hampden.
“Sometimes you need to respond in football,” Clarke told Premier Sports. “It is good that we have responded in this way.
“We did a lot of work in the short time we had, a lot of boring work in the lecture room, and obviously they took it all on board. They were excellent.”
Super John McGinn
When the Tartan Army belted out their ‘Super John McGinn’ anthem, there was certainly an element of language when it came to the Aston Villa captain being ‘better than Zidane’ – even if they Some believe. This.
What is in no doubt, though, is the line that comes right out to him – ‘He’s Steve Clarke’s man’.
The former Hibernian and St Mirren midfielder is just one game away from a half-century for the Caps. In the first of those 14 appearances under Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish and Malki McKay, McGinn failed to score or assist.
In the following 35 games under Clarke, the 27-year-old has scored 20 goals – scoring 14 and assisting six – 12 more than any other player.
With Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay deployed as a double pivot in midfield in an updated 4-2-3-1 system, McGinn was able to move behind Che Adams and score the opening goal against his infamous backside. Licensed to use for profit.
He also managed more shots (six) than any other player on the pitch while registering seven touches in the opposition box and creating two clear chances.
McGinn’s courage and effort is what endears him most to the Scotland support, though, and that was evident again at Hampden when he won 10 of his 14 duels and five times in the final third. Gained possession.
“We went back to doing what we do well, being fearsome and wanting to play against him,” McGinn told Premier Sports. “We know we are a good team and we owe it to the supporters, the manager and most of all to ourselves for this performance.”
The Dykes effect highlights the depth of the squad.
A bold system change, which ultimately paid off, and a much improved all-round display compared to the summer performances stand out as key positives.
But Scotland’s options still look strong despite missing captain Andy Robertson and centre-backs John Suter and Liam Cooper, plus late call-offs with Grant Henley and Jacob Brown.
This was highlighted by the performance of Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey, who replaced the injured Nathan Pietersen in the first half, and the goal-scoring cameo of Lyndon Dykes, who replaced Chris Burke for Scotland against Bulgaria. Braces became the first substitutes. May 2006.
Ryan Fraser, who assisted both of Dykes’ headers, also made an impression off the bench, despite both having a “bump with the head coach”, as Clarke mischievously put it.
Two pinpoint headers have taken Dykes’ Scotland tally to eight goals in 23 caps, and the forward has confirmed Clarke’s decision to come to Hampden on Saturday with the Republic of Ireland.
“I was disappointed not to play, but I came on and changed the game,” Dykes told Premier Sports. “My goal record for Scotland has been good.”
The unlikely hero plays his part.
A lot of the “boring work” Clarke refers to can involve hours of set-piece drills. Both of Dykes’ headers came as a result of two Fraser corners, and both the squad and manager were keen to praise former Hearts coach Austin McPhee.
MacPhee specializes in set-piece training with both the national team and Premier League side Aston Villa, and Clarke praised his influence, saying “the lads are listening to what the movements should be”.
“Credit to Austin,” Dykes added. “He’s been great since he came in. When I came in, he told me to go to the front post. I went to the front post twice and scored two runs.”
“Shout out to Austin,” Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney said. “We had a few meetings on it. You don’t have a lot of time to work on it but the preparation he does is fantastic.”
