KIDS PRIDE TO RESCUE
Hero Connor gives Gemmill his pot of gold
SCOT GEMMILL admits it was “an unbelievable feeling” to watch his young Scots restore some much-needed national pride with a brilliant win in Sibenik.
Aberdeen ace Connor McLennan came off the bench to net a remarkable double in the last nine minutes after Gemmill’s side fell behind early on.
They were overwhelmed for large periods of the first half but the Scots completely turned it around after the break.
Gemmill introduced Glenn Middleton and McLennan with 11 minutes to go.
And it paid off in stunning fashion when the pair combined for an equaliser within three minutes of their introduction.
McLennan then headed a lastminute winner to spark scenes of celebration on the Scottish bench as they clinched victory against the Pot One seeds.
It’s now two wins out of two for the Under-21s in their Euro 2021 campaign as they aim to qualify for a finals tournament for the first time since 1996.
Gemmill said: “It was an unbelievable feeling to see the players execute the game plan.
“It was superb we had that kind of quality on the bench – it hasn’t always been the case. This is a new group and to beat a Pot One team away from home is a top achievement. It definitely ranks up there.
“I’m so pleased for the players. They’ve shown they can be trusted and are willing enough and clever enough to do it. They’ve shown they have belief. We had two different games, one where there is a huge expectancy to beat San Marino and break them down and we did that well. The energy and intensity to win the ball back – it’s a long time since I saw a Scotland team do that.
“Then to play a Pot One team, go a goal down and still have resilience, belief and intelligence to keep executing the game plan. Connor and Glenn came on and made the difference. It was a mature performance.” Billy Gilmour, who was yesterday named in Chelsea’s Champions League squad, was ruled out with a muscle strain and he, keeper Robby McCrorie, Middleton and McLennan were replaced by Daniel Harvie, Ross Doohan, Ryan Porteous and Fraser Hornby. The Croats took a 10th-minute lead after a cross from their captain, Dinamo Zagreb’s Nikola Moro, for club-mate Sandro Kulenovic who gave Doohan no chance with a header.
The Scots looked a lot better after the break and with 20 minutes to go Hornby stabbed a shot at goal from a Jordan Holsgrove cross but was denied by Chievo keeper Adrian Semper. Gemmill threw on Middleton and McLennan – and minutes later the on-loan Hibs star darted down the left and whipped in a cross for McLennan to take a touch and drill home. Scotland grabbed a late winner after Hornby was again denied as Ross McCrorie arrowed in a cross for the onrushing McLennan to head in. SCOTLAND – Doohan 7, Ross McCrorie 7, Porteous 8, Johnston 7, Harvie 6, Magennis 6, Campbell 6, Holsgrove 7 (Maguire 84, 2), Reading 7 (Middleton 78, 6), Ferguson 6 (McLennan 78, 7), Hornby 8. Not used: Robby McCrorie, Smith, Maguire, Scott, Kelly, McAllister.