Clarke targets return to 2021 form after win

National boss Steve Clarke has challenged Scotland to make a 2-0 defeat of Armenia the start of another long unbeaten run.

The Scots bounced back from recent World Cup heartache with the Nations League Group B1 win at Hampden last night, goals coming from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna.

Clarke’s side were on an eight-game unbeaten run prior to crashing 3-1 to Ukraine in the World Cup play-off semi-final last week.

He wants a return to the form before the bid for Qatar 2022 ended.

Clarke said: “Hopefully this is the start of another unbeaten run. It was a good performance and a good result.

“I knew my players would be up for this game.

“We want to do well in the Nations League and have won our opening game.”

After delivering a goal and clean sheet Clarke praised the former Dons’ centre-back.

However, Clarke reckons McKenna could have been celebrating a memorable double against Armenia – if he had not been so impetuous.

McKenna had the ball in the net a second time but it was ruled out for offside after going to a VAR decision.

The Scotland gaffer said: “Scott did well. The whole back three did well and worked well as a unit.

“It was good for Scott to get the goal. If he had not been so impetuous and got himself a half yard offside he would have got a double.”

Scotland faced Armenia just seven days after the World Cup dream ended with defeat to Ukraine.

Clarke never doubted his players would recover from that heartache. He said: “They are professional athletes, professional footballers.

“They have to move on. Our captain (Andy Robertson) was outstanding on the pitch and outstanding in the dressing room.

“Robertson, John McGinn, Callum McGregor – all leaders. They took them onto the pitch in the right frame of mind.

“It is a role he (Robertson) is really growing into and sometimes I don’t think he gets the mention he should.”

Although ranked 92nd in the world, Armenia had shocked Republic of Ireland with a 1-0 win in Nations League on Saturday.

Clarke expected the visitors to sit deep and defend.

He said: “We were very good with the way we approached the game and the speed we played the ball. The key was to keep the tempo in the game, the rhythm and get at their weak spots.

“To keep searching and eventually it would pay off.

“We got in the right positions against a very defensive team.

“We knew we would have to do the right things to break them down and that’s what we did.”

McKenna was thrilled to mark his 25th cap with a maiden Scotland goal against Armenia.

Former Aberdeen defender McKenna, who now plays for Nottingham Forest, netted Scotland’s second goal following Ralston’s opener.

It continued an excellent recent spell for the Kirriemuir-born player, who helped Forest gain promotion to the English Premier League last month.

McKenna was quickly denied a second goal before the break, when his strike was ruled out for offside by a VAR check. Having been handed a return to the starting line-up by Clarke, McKenna was thrilled to repay the faith shown in him.

He added: “It was a nice feeling and probably one of the easiest goals I will ever score.

“John McGinn put on a great ball and it just landed right on my head.

“With the second one I thought when it hit the bar it went beyond the line when John squared it again. I’m a bit disappointed but that is football.

“It was important we got the result and we did that.

“In the first half, I thought we played well, created a few chances and got the two goals.

“In the second half we just kept the ball and we were pretty solid at the back as well.

“Hopefully we can pick up another couple of results over the next five or six days.”

SCOTLAND CHANCE: Che Adams tries his luck on goal as Scotland return to winning ways after the disappointment of losing to Ukraine last week.