5 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM LAST NIGHT...

1 LEIGH GRIFFITHS should be in possession of the No 9 jersey going forward. Yeah, he missed a couple of chances. But he looked a constant threat to the opposition defence prior to his injury. That’s not something you’ve found yourself saying too often in recent years about any Scotland striker. His desire to dart in behind pinned the Slovenian defence back in the first half and created good space for the Scotland midfield to operate in.

2 KIERAN TIERNEY is a class footballer in every single department. Seriously, is there anything he can’t do? The 19-year-old left-back was switched to the opposite side of defence last night and didn’t put a foot wrong. Callum Paterson will probably come back as first-choice right-back once he recovers from injury, but Tierney looks like the best option outwith that. A solid performance from the Celtic teenager.

3 THE swathes of empty seats around Hampden made it look like fans had given up all hope under the current regime. And who could blame them, given that it cost £40 a ticket. Was anyone even remotely excited by this game? Has there ever been such apathy around the national team? Last night’s result will change that... if only for the one game when England come calling.

4 STUART ARMSTRONG should be the man we build our midfield around. What a difference it made to have a player with class and composure in the centre of the pitch. It’s not just his intelligent use of the ball, but also how he brings out the best in others around him. He even made Chris Martin score a goal by assisting the striker’s late winner. Griffiths was also linking well with his Celtic team-mate. Still only 24 years of age, Armstrong has his best years firmly ahead of him. John McGinn is 22 and in the same boat. Surely that’s a partnership that needs to be explored.

5 BARRING a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar in a dead-rubber at the end of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, this was Scotland’s first clean sheet in a competitive game since beating the Republic of Ireland 1-0 at Celtic Park in November 2014. What the long-term answer is remains anyone’s guess, but Russell Martin (right) and Charlie Mulgrew looked solid enough last night to suggest they will get the nod against England at Hampden on June 10.