ROAD TO GERMANY UNDERWAY
The agonising Qatar 2022 play-off semi-final defeat to Ukraine last week was still fresh in the memories of the Scotland supporters who filed inside Hampden tonight.
But for the players who took to the field to face Armenia in their opening 2022/23 Nations League match, the focus was firmly on the future and building towards the Euro 2024 finals.
This comfortable triumph got the national team off to the perfect start in Group B1 and was just what they needed after the bitter disappointment of their 3-1 loss seven days earlier.
The Republic of Ireland and Ukraine will provide far stiffer opposition than rivals who are in 92nd place in the FIFA World Rankings.
Still, there was much for members of the Tartan Army to be heartened by. The players who Steve Clarke drafted in acquitted themselves well.
This competition enabled Scotland to make it through to the Euro 2020 finals via the play-offs and will provide them with an alternative route to Euro 2024 in Germany if qualifying goes awry.
This win, then, gives them a platform to build on.
RALSTON RAMPANT
Anthony Ralston proved a few doubters wrong this season and showed that he is talented enough to hold a first team place at Celtic.
The right back, who had been a peripheral figure for years at Parkhead, made 47 appearances in the 2021/22 campaign and helped Ange Postecoglou’s side to complete a Premier Sports Cup and cinch Premiership double.
Can the 23-year-old become a potent weapon for Scotland in future? On the evidence of this showing, there is every chance he can excel for his country as well as his club.
Ralston had only made one international appearance – he came on as a late substitute in the Qatar 2022 qualifier against Denmark back in November – before tonight. But he did not look like a player making his first start in a dark blue jersey.
In the opening 10 minutes he set up Stuart Armstrong for a shot and then delivered a dangerous ball across the front of the Armenia goal. He then dealt coolly with an attempted break upfield by Sargis Adamyan.
The defender required medical treatment after suffering a head knock challenging for an Andy Robertson cross. But he recovered quickly and netted the opener brilliantly soon after following a pinpoint delivery from Armstrong. A striker would have been proud of his header.
Ralston faces stiff opposition for a place from Nathan Patterson, who made a welcome return to action in the second-half, Aaron Hickey, who took over from Andy Robertson, and Stephen O’Donnell. But he gave his manager food for thought with a Man of the Match-winning showing.
MATURE MCKENNA
Scott McKenna is, having made his debut in the first game of Alex McLeish’s second spell in charge back in 2018, far more experienced at international level than Ralston.
Yet, the former Aberdeen centre half has, despite picking up another 23 caps before tonight, struggled to hold down a regular first team berth since.
With Kieran Tierney being deployed to the left side of the three man backline so he can play in the same side as Andy Robertson, he has often been left on the bench.
He faces fierce competition from Grant Hanley, Liam Cooper, Scott McTominay, Jack Hendry and John Souttar too.
But the 25-year-old has improved greatly since moving to Nottingham Forest in a £3m transfer in 2020. He showed how much he has matured tonight.
McKenna, fresh from helping Forest beat Huddesrfield in the Championship play-off final, scored his first goal for his country when he nodded in a John McGinn corner in the first-half.
He was, too, unfortunate to have a second disallowed by German referee Felix Zwayer for offside soon after following a VAR check.
The Kirriemuir-born player will not have many easier nights defensively. Still, he read the game well, was good in the air and made some timely tackles when the visitors were on the attack.
