The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Let’s keep feelgood factor, says Christie
SCOTLAND: Midfielder keen to maintain momentum with Hampden win
Ryan Christie urged Scotland to carry the feelgood factor from Shkoder to the south side of Glasgow for tomorrow’s crucial Nations League game against Israel.
Scotland boss Alex Mcleish overcame nine withdrawals to put together an exciting and pacey side which won 4-0 in Albania on Saturday night to take them within 90 minutes of a play-off spot for Euro 2020. His team moved on to six points along with Israel, and any kind of win at Hampden will secure top spot in Group C1.
Christie wants Scotland to continue from where they left off in Albania.
The 23-year-old said: “We were looking to go out to Albania and get a solid victory, which we did – four goals and a clean sheet.
“Sothatwillgiveustheconfidenceandmomentum going into Tuesday night which we all know is a big game. It will be nice to be on home soil again and hopefully we can carry this result on to Hampden Park.”
The Celtic midfielder was at the heart of most of the major talking points in Albania.
He set up wide man Ryan Fraser for his first goal in national team colours after 14 minutes before home skipper Mergim Mavraj was sent off six minutes later by referee Vladislav Bezborodov.
Mavraj landed a headbutt on the former Inverness and Aberdeen player.
Just before the break Christie won a free-kick at the edge of the box, from which Stuart Armstrong’s strike at goal was judged to have been handled, and striker Steven Fletcher converted the penalty.
Christie then played in James Forrest for him to score his first Scotland goal before his Celtic team-mate grabbed his double when he converted a Fraser cut-back in style.
He said: “It was a brilliant game to be part of, especially in the second half.
“The second goal just before half-time was crucial and going into the second half we were really comfortable and that showed.
“James got the goal to put us 3-0 up and we stamped our authority on the game. It is a great team to be part of.”
Livingston striker Dolly Menga was banned for two games after the West Lothian club chose not to appeal against his charge for putting his head towards Christie in a goalless Ladbrokes Premiership clash last Sunday, after it was initially missed by the officials.
However, Russian referee Bezborodov noted Mavraj’s transgression after he had first fouled Forrest and dismissed him down the tunnel.
“That’s two in a week,” said the Hoops player.
“I wasn’t sure if it was the captain who made the initial challenge but I was trying to get the ball off him for the free-kick and he seemed to get really aggressive and put the head towards me. I am happy that the officials saw this one.”
It is an exciting time for Christie who has only recently become a regular in the Celtic side and who signed a new threeyear deal with the Scottish champions last week.
He said: “It has been a bit of a whirlwind. I have found myself very lucky that they have put me into a team full of great players all around me.
“We are playing some great football with Celtic just now and coming away at international level, I really enjoyed playing in that team on Saturday night.
“Callum Mcgregor was sitting in behind me tonight as I am used to and when you have players like Ryan Fraser and James Forrest running off the ball it makes my job easy.”
Celtic winger Forrest meanwhile was thrilled to finally end his Scotland goal drought.
The 27-year-old, who won his first Scotland cap seven years ago, said: “I am absolutely buzzing to get on the scoresheet for my country.
“I have had a few chances to score before but I am delighted to score two on my 25th cap. It gives us a lot of confidence to take into the game on Tuesday.
“The boys put in a really good performance from start to finish.”
The in-form Hoops midfielder was pleased to be in from the start against Albania and now looks certain to start against Israel tomorrow.
And the Celtic player says the national team should head into the fixture with the belief that they can get the victory required to earn a play-off spot.
He added: “You have to always believe in your ability. Once you get the chance you need to take it.
“There is a lot of good players in the squad. “We played well throughout the team and I think all of the boys will take confidence into the game on Tuesday.”
Aberdeen’s Kirriemuir-born defender Scott Mckenna believes he has former Dons captain Willie Miller to thank for helping him make the step up to international football.
The 22-year-old earned his seventh cap for his country in Shkoder.
Mckenna has enjoyed a rapid rise in the game since making his first Dons start against Motherwell in September last year.
Aston Villa, Celtic and Hull City have all had bids rejected for the defender, who captained his country on only his fourth appearance against Mexico in June.
Miller, who won 65 caps for Scotland during his playing career, has made no secret of his belief that Mckenna possesses all the tools to take him to the top of the game.
But the defender said it was the tough criticism he received from Miller when he was training with the Dons as a youngster that helped ensure he developed the right habits from an early age.
He said: “I bump into into Willie time to time and he always gives me feedback on the games he has watched.
“Right from the start he has told it as it is. He coached me for a year or two at the under-17s when I was around 14 or 15.
“We were young kids but he was brutally honest with us.
“I remember for the first couple of weeks, everyone was a bit taken aback by how he was. It is tough to hear. You think, ‘He can’t speak to me like that’.
“But then we all came to realise he was doing it for our own benefit.
“And now my view is that is exactly the wakening you need when you are at that age. Things are plain sailing at first because you don’t tend to get a lot of criticism.
“I believe hearing Willie’s honest opinions set us up for stepping up into full-time football, when things obviously become a bit more cut-throat.
“Suddenly people are shouting at you and getting on your case so Willie’s honesty stood us in good stead and bridged that gap for us. Now, he will try and take a bit of credit. He is probably a bit biased towards me!”