CRAIG GORDON had one of the best views in the house at Hampden. Now the keeper has backed Scotland to secure their ticket to the play-offs after putting themselves in the box seat in the Nations League.
Victory over Ukraine on Wednesday evening leaves Scotland perfectly placed in Group One ahead of their final fixtures with the Republic of Ireland and Oleksandr Petrakov's side.
A place in the play-off rounds for the European Championships will be the reward if Clarke and his players can now finish the job and secure top spot in the section.
Gordon savoured every minute of the 3-0 success as John McGinn broke Ukraine's resistance in the second half and Lyndon Dykes headed home twice in quick succession.
At the other end of the park, Gordon was a virtual spectator. Ukraine were meek in attack and the keeper had one of his quietest, but one of his most satisfying, nights between the sticks.
Questions were asked about Clarke's side following the back-to-back defeats to Ukraine and Ireland in the summer. Many were answered at Hampden as doubt was replaced by optimism once again.
Gordon said: "When I came into the dressing room, I said ‘well done lads, that was a good watch’. I don’t think they had a shot on target.
"A couple of things flashed across the face of goal, one that I punched clear and then one that I had to come out of the box for but apart from that, fairly quiet.
"I thought the players were absolutely fantastic. We were just chatting about that when we were going round clapping the fans.
"I said ‘that one’s right up there in terms of performance levels’. Goals as well.
"We needed a few set pieces. We pride ourselves on the work we do on them.
"And we probably should have scored few more from open play. In terms of our general play, we got so much right.
"It’s always been there. We know we’ve got a good squad. We see it every day in training when we’re together. Everybody loves joining up and playing at that intensity, at that level, in training.
"We have to keep that up now, that level and speed we played at [on Wednesday night]. If we can do that then it is very difficult for any team to live with us."
A tally of nine points from four fixtures is enough to leave Scotland on the brink of winning their section and earning that play-off berth that could yet prove so significant on the road to the next Euro finals.
The introduction of Dykes, and the two clinical headers that followed, added a deserved shine to the scoreline as Clarke was able to utilise a squad that showed no hangover from their previous setbacks.
The first part of the job has been done. Now it must be completed as Ireland arrive in Glasgow ahead of the final fixture in Krakow next Tuesday night.
Gordon said: "We know, especially in those forward areas, that we’ve got fresh players coming on. Ukraine tried to do that as well, freshen up their frontline.
"But our replacement frontline came on and outshone them with a couple of fantastic goals. Good set pieces and two unbelievable headers.
"Absolutely, We have to [build on this]. There’s no point doing it for one game. We’ve got three games here and we need to keep that up.
"We want to keep going, get as many points as we can and try to top the group. As far as we’re concerned, it’s on to the next one. We have to give it the best we can."
