Ralston revels in first start while McKenna makes his Mark on Clarke’s side
AFTER the pain of losing out on a chance to reach this year’s World Cup at the first hurdle in the play-offs against Ukraine, Scotland kick-started their European Championships qualifying campaign in an assured fashion as goals from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna ensured a winning start to the Nations League group against Armenia. Here are three things we learned as Steve Clarke’s side got back to winning ways at Hampden.
Road to Germany under way
The agonising Qatar 2022 playoff semi-final defeat to Ukraine last week was still fresh in the memories of the Scotland supporters who filed inside Hampden last night. But for the players who took to the field to face Armenia in their opening 2022/23 Nations League match, the focus was firmly on the future and building towards the Euro 2024 finals.
This comfortable triumph got the national team off to the perfect start in Group B1.
The Republic of Ireland and Ukraine will provide far stiffer opposition than rivals who are in 92nd place in the FIFA world rankings. Still, there was much for members of the Tartan Army to be heartened by.
This competition enabled Scotland to make it through to the Euro 2020 finals via the playoffs and will provide them with an alternative route to Euro 2024 in Germany if qualifying goes awry. This win, then, gives them a platform to build on.
Ralston rampant
Anthony Ralston proved a few doubters wrong this season and showed that he is talented enough to hold a first team place at Celtic.
The right-back, who had been a peripheral figure for years at Parkhead, made 47 appearances in the 2021/22 campaign and helped Ange Postecoglou’s side to complete a Premier Sports Cup and cinch Premiership double. Can the 23-year-old become a potent weapon for Scotland in future? On the evidence of this showing, there is every chance he can excel for his country as well as his club.
Ralston had only made one international appearance before last night, but he did not look like a player making his first start in a dark blue jersey.
The defender netted the opener brilliantly soon after following a pinpoint delivery from Armstrong. A striker would have been proud of his header.
Ralston faces stiff competition for a place from Nathan Patterson, who made a welcome return to action in the second half, Aaron Hickey, who took over from Robertson, and Stephen O’Donnell. But he certheir
tainly gave his manager food for thought with a man-of-the -match showing.
Mature McKenna
Scott McKenna is far more experienced at international level than Ralston. Yet, the former Aberdeen centre-half has struggled to hold down a regular first-team berth since making his debut in 2018.
With Kieran Tierney being deployed to the left side of the three-man backline so he can play in the same side as Andy Robertson, he has often been left on the bench.
He faces fierce competition from Grant Hanley, Liam Cooper, Scott McTominay, Jack Hendry and John Souttar, too. But the 25-year-old has imthrow proved greatly since moving to Nottingham Forest in a £3m transfer in 2020. He showed how much he has matured last night.
McKenna, fresh from helping Forest beat Huddesrfield in the Championship play-off final, scored his first goal for his country when he nodded in a John McGinn corner in the first-half. He was, too, unfortunate to have a second disallowed by German referee Felix Zwayer for offside soon after following a VAR check.
The Kirriemuir-born player will not have many easier nights defensively. Still, he read the game well, was good in the air and made some timely tackles when the visitors were on the attack.