Burke ends goal drought as Scotland shock Dutch

EURO 2019: Mallan also on the mark as Dark Blues get campaign off to a flyer

SCOTLAND UNDER-21 2 HOLLAND UNDER-21 0

Fifer Oliver Burke ended Scotland Under-21s’ 18-month goal drought last night as Scot Gemmill’s men grabbed a shock 2-0 win over Holland in their opening Euro 2019 qualifier.

Former Hibs striker Jason Cummings – now of Nottingham Forest – was the last man to strike for Scotland U21s, against Northern Ireland back in March 2016.

But West Brom’s new £15 million signing ended that long wait with his 62nd-minute finish at Paisley 2021 Stadium before Stevie Mallan added a second goal to give the young Scots the perfect start to their Group Four campaign.

Gemmill admitted before the match that his side would be hard pushed to challenge top seeds England and the Dutch for a place in the finals in Italy two years’ time.

But it was his side who made the early running and should have taken the lead after five minutes when Dom Thomas’ deep corner found former Dundee United defener John Souttar at the back post. The Hearts man lashed over, however.

Thomas was the creator again as his reverse pass found Lewis Morgan in a pocket of space but he dragged his shot wide.

The St Mirren midfielder had another attempt after robbing Bart Ramselaar on halfway but flashed his strike across the face of goal after an impressive 40-yard burst.

Iain Wilson’s decision to go to ground left Scotland exposed for the first time on 34 minutes and PSV Eindhoven striker Steven Bergwijn went within a whisker of taking advantage as he slammed a first-time shot off Ryan Fulton’s left post, while a speculative effort from Pablo Rosario fizzed just over soon after.

The Scots continued to dominate after the break and went close when Mallan’s corner was nodded down by Scott McKenna, with Souttar only just unable to apply a finishing touch.

But, after 10 hours and 14 minutes of international action without a goal, the Scots found the net at last.

Another Mallan delivery bounced off Dutch defender Rick van Drongelen’s shins and landed for Kirkcaldy-born Burke, who slammed home with glee.

And, like buses, the Scots soon had another. Rosario’s back-pass was horrendously under-cooked and Barnsley playmaker Mallan raced in to grab the clincher with 12 minutes remaining.

U21s boss Gemmill is not getting carried away but reckons there are clear signs of progress.

“We know we’re working in the right way and preparing the team the right way,” he said.

“Personally I’ve had success with the 17s and I’m really confident we’re doing the right things. “But it doesn’t matter if we think that. “If the players don’t come with the mentality we saw tonight then it doesn’t matter how good the coaching staff are, so all credit goes to the players.

“It was a really good performance, a strong performance. With the players we challenged them to play with that intensity, determination, willingness, concentration and intelligence.

“You have to give them a lot of credit, to play like that at that level against very good opposition from pot two.

“The players are deservedly very pleased with themselves. They really showed their level.

“It’s just one game and it’s important to state that. It’s about moving in the right direction, game by game.”

Scotland meet England next at Middlesbrough’s Riverside on October 6 and are away to Latvia four days later.

Scotland: Fulton, Ralston, McKenna, Souttar, Taylor, Wilson, Mallan, Cadden, Morgan, Thomas, Burke. Subs – McCrorie, Wright, Archibald.

SNS. Stevie Mallan, above, is congratulated after firing home Scotland’s second goal, while Dutch keeper Joel Drommel punches clear.

Oliver Burke, who opened the scoring for Scotland and end an 18-month goal drought, goes up against Netherlands’ Rick van Drongelen.