THREE years to the day since Steve Clarke’s first match in charge of Scotland, his team once again overcame limited opposition at Hampden. But while that much is the same, so much has changed.
Despite the lingering heartache all around Hampden at what happened in this stadium seven days ago, there can be no denying that in the time that has passed since that laboured, narrow win over Cyprus in 2019, Clarke has taken this team on a journey.
The likes of Eamonn Brophy and Charlie Mulgrew started that night three years ago, while it was Oliver Burke who came off the bench that night to hit the last-gasp winner. The quality and depth of the squad has improved hugely, as was evidenced here as Clarke made six changes and still won handily. Admittedly, against poor opposition in the form of Armenia.
There has of course been the return to a major tournament, and the disappointment of not making it to the World Cup after an impressive qualifying campaign. That defeat to Ukraine was one of a few bumps along the road, but it was important for Clarke and his team to make a statement that they wouldn’t be knocked off their course by the collective nightmare they endured here at Hampden a week ago.
It wasn’t as emphatic as he would have perhaps liked, first-half goals from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna enough to see off an Armenian team who offered little but honest effort and the odd hefty challenge. but there would be none of the nerve-jangling drama of Clarke’s Scotland debut as coach with victory never really in doubt.
What was also important was to hold the engagement of the Tartan Army. Ok, Hampden wasn’t packed to the rafters for this game, and the healthy 38,627 attendance was aided by the SFA’s clever ploy of hawking three-match packages prior to the Ukraine game. But there was enough here for the crowd to enjoy to add hope that the supporters will stick with this team as they pick themselves up for the challenge of making the next European Championships. Clarke’s team may have disappointed them on occasion, but on the whole, they have given the fans a reason to believe in them again.
Clarke said there would be changes to his line-up following the defeat to Ukraine, and perhaps with the heavy schedule over the next six days in mind also, he made sweeping alterations to his starting XI.
There was an entirely new back three, with John Souttar, Jack Hendry and Scott McKenna drafted in, while Ralston took the place of Aaron Hickey on the right. Some may have lamented this wasn’t the way he set up a week previously.
With Lyndon Dykes injured there was a tweak in the formation too, with Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie supporting frontman Che Adams.
It was a good start by the Scots as they attempted to shake the misery of the last week, and they went close as Andy Robertson’s deep cross was helped back into the path of Stuart Armstrong by Ralston, the Southampton man sending a first-time effort off the base of the far post.
Robertson then brought out a fine fingertip save from David Yurchenko after more good work from Ralston, but the bright opening from the Scots rather dissipated for a spell, before Hampden eventually had a reason to come to life just before the half hour.
Armstrong picked the ball up on the left and had time to measure a peach of a cross onto the head of Ralston as he snuck in at the back post, the Celtic man steering a very decent header in at the far stick for his first goal in a Scotland jersey on his first start for his country.
Scotland could have had a couple more as Adams and Christie passed up half chances, but they did get the goal that killed the game as a contest – such as it was – before the interval.
A Callum McGregor shot was deflected wide, allowing McGinn to curl a deep corner to the back post over the dithering Yurchenko, and there was McKenna to nod into the unguarded net. He might have had another too, volleying home from a well-worked set-piece only for VAR to deny him due to an offside.
The second half was less eventful, with the Armenians content to sit in and try to hit on the counter, which almost brought them success on a couple of occasions in fairness.
Scotland were huffing and puffing to break the visitors down, and it was no surprise to see Clarke ringing the changes with 15 minutes left to freshen things up.
Nathan Patterson made his long-awaited return from injury, while Aaron Hickey and Scott McTominay also joined the action, giving Robertson a breather and allowing Ralston and Armstrong to enjoy some appreciation from the crowd for their impressive showings.
The subs did bring a renewed impetus, and Adams soon squandered a good chance to score, taking too long to get the ball out from under his feet in the area, which was indicative of the lack of confidence he seems to be playing with just at the minute.
McGinn then thundered a strike off the underside of the bar from 18 yards, before Jacob Brown and Ross Stewart were given the last few minutes to impress.
There would be no icing on the cake, but there was enough to suggest that Clarke may well be setting Scotland and the Tartan Army off on another adventure.
