Scotland manager Steve Clarke praised his side for showing the patience and composure to overturn a half-time deficit and defeat Republic of Ireland 2-1.
The Scots - playing their second game in 72 hours - trailed at the break to John Egan’s opener at a packed-out Hampden.
But Jack Hendry’s second-half header and a late Ryan Christie penalty - following Alan Browne’s handball - were enough to secure a crucial victory for Clarke’s side as they moved back above Ukraine at the top of Nations League Group B1 ahead of Tuesday’s showdown between the two nations in Krakow.
“It was as tough a game as we expected, you could see Ireland had a clear week to prepare for the game,” said Clarke. “It took us a bit of time to get a foothold and by that time we had conceded from a set-piece which plays into Ireland’s strengths as they have good pace up front and are a good counter-attacking team.
“Towards the end of the first half we had better control of the game. I said to the boys at half-time just to stay patient and keep working the ball into good areas.
“I knew eventually the game would come back to us. At half-time it was about having a little reset just to calm the boys down. You don’t want to get them too frantic and starting to put the ball into the box from deep areas.
“Eventually we go to 1-1 and the penalty was right. If you jump for the ball like that with your hands in front and it stops the ball going goalwards, it’s a penalty.”
A point against Ukraine will earn the Scots top spot in the section and promotion to Group A.
Ryan Christie makes it 2-1 to Scotland from the spot! 🏴
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) September 24, 2022
Alan Browne was penalised for hand ball to give away the penalty 🖐️#SCOROI | @ScotlandNT pic.twitter.com/z0rvLhJWzo
“At this moment in time I’m just thinking about what my issues (in terms of injuries) are going into the game on Tuesday, rather than thinking about the consequences,” he said.
“We know we have to get a point. We know we have to go to a difficult place. We know we have to play very well. If we do that then we get first place in the group. Then we can talk about the rewards of being first.”
Clarke lost both full-backs Kieran Tierney and Aaron Hickey to injury during the match but insisted they were both taken off for “precautionary” reasons. Tierney was replaced under doctor’s orders after suffering a head knock while Hickey had a tight hamstring.
Midfielder Scott McTominay is suspended for Tuesday’s match in Krakow after picking up a second Nations League booking.
