Victory over Dutch just the start: Burke

Fifer Oliver Burke says Scotland Under-21s can upset the odds and challenge for a place at Euro 2019.

Scott Gemmill’s youngsters kicked-off their qualifying campaign with a surprise victory over Holland on Tuesday night.

Few gave the Scots a chance of pipping the Dutch and top seeds England to claim a place at the finals in Italy before that opening clash.

But strikes from Kirkcaldy’s £15 million man Burke and Stevie Mallan gave them a 2-0 win and the perfect start to their qualifying bid.

Now West Brom’s £15 million signing reckons the confidence produced by that victory can act as a springboard for his side.

He said: “We are all very positive and we want to qualify, just as every other team in the group does.

“I feel we have a very good chance, especially with that first win and gaining a clean sheet.

“It’s the perfect start and I’m so chuffed for the boys. It was a great shift and a great start so I hope we can now carry things on.

“We have a top team, we have talent all over the park and we just need to make sure it continues coming together. We are still knitting as a group but you can tell already after a week of training that we have a great chemistry within the squad.”

Burke’s close-range strike was the first netted by the Scots at under-21 level in more than 10 hours of action following a goal drought that stretched back to March last year.

But the former Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig striker says Gemmill’s current group are improving all the time.

“We have to keep it going and working hard and goals will come,” said Burke, who skippered Scotland to victory.

“You saw how patient we were in the first half against Holland, we had a few chances where it wasn’t falling for us and the final end product wasn’t there.

“In the second half the game started to open up, the Dutch started to get tired and they didn’t like it when we were running a lot and putting balls in behind.

“It showed a maturity and a togetherness as a team but we need to stay focused and look ahead to the next task which is against England.

“We always want to focus on the next task and it’s now about the next game, which the boys are buzzing for.”