Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McGinn brace sets Scots onto Faroes cruise
JOHN McGinn scored twice as Scotland secured the first win of their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands last night.
The Aston Villa midfielder, who scored a crucial late leveller against Austria last week, fired the home side into the lead in the seventh minute at Hampden Park then doubled that up with a header in the 54th minute – his 10th international goal.
Southampton striker Che Adams scored his first Scotland goal in his third appearance on the hour mark before Ryan Fraser added a fourth with a back-post header.
After draws against Austria and Israel in their opening two Group F fixtures, Scotland moved into second place behind flawless Denmark with five points from nine but still have work to do if they are to get to Qatar next year.
However, Steve Clarke will be more than pleased with a dominant performance, notwithstanding the lower quality of opponent.
The Scotland boss, as expected, tweaked his team against a side who had started their campaign with a draw against Moldova and defeat in Austria.
Craig Gordon took over from David Marshall in goal, with Scott McTominay dropping back from midfield to a three-man defence alongside Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney.
With defenders Jack Hendry and Stephen O’Donnell dropping out, Fraser, who scored the leveller in Israel on Sunday, moved to right wing-back and Kenny McLean came into midfield, with Adams and Lyndon Dykes starting for the first time as an attacking duo.
The home side started with good intent. The Faroe Islands, who had taken points from Scotland in Euro qualifiers twice before, draws in 1999 and 2002, had former Motherwell stopper Gunnar Nielsen in goal and within a minute he had to make a save from Fraser’s left-footed drive.
Scotland’s opener came through a well-worked passage of play which led to midfielder Callum McGregor feeding the advanced Tierney on the left-hand side of the penalty area.