Steve Clarke’s side opened the scoring through McGinn (70) before Lyndon Dykes scored twice from corners (80, 87) to help Scotland make amends to Ukraine after losing in June’s World Cup play-off semi-finals . “We needed it,” McGinn told Premier Sports. “The summer hurt us a lot. Tonight we went back to doing what we do well, being awful to play against and showing desire.” Image: Scotland’s John McGinn celebrates scoring 1-0 against Ukraine in the Nations League The pressure on Scotland was mounting after a string of missed chances from Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Che Adams in an impressive display from the home side, but the floodgates were opened when McGinn broke the deadlock to the relief of the Hampden Park crowd. An injury to Everton right-back Nathan Paterson – which saw him stretchered off in the first half – was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect night for Scotland. “We do not know [how bad it is] because he has to go and be assessed but it doesn’t look good,” said Scotland manager Clarke. Scotland have taken control of Group B1, with just two draws needed against the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine to finish top. Promotion to the top tier of the Nation’s League would guarantee Scotland a Euro 2024 play-off spot if they miss out.

Scotland Player Ratings

Scotland: Gordon (6), Patterson (5), Hendry (8), McKenna (7), Tierney (7), Armstrong (7), McGinn (9), McGregor (7), McTominay (8), Christie (7), Adams (8). Subs: Hickey (8), Dykes (9), Fraser (8), McLean (n/a), Taylor (n/a). Man of the Match: John McGinn.

How Scotland made amends against Ukraine

  Image: Scotland’s Kieran Tierney and Ukraine’s Valeriy Bondar during the Nations League match

Scotland had the better chances in a lackluster first half, with Christie heading home after getting under Armstrong’s cross before narrowly missing out on the run after the Southampton midfielder’s shot was saved by Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin. Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has been a transfer target for Arsenal and Brentford, was a constant thorn in Everton right-back Nathan Patterson’s side until he was left speechless but was kept quiet in the second half by Aaron Hickey of Bradford.

Group B1: Remaining matches

Armenia – Ukraine – Yerevan, Saturday, September 24 Scotland v Republic of Ireland – Glasgow, Saturday 24 September Republic of Ireland – Armenia – Dublin, Tuesday 27 September Ukraine – Scotland – Krakow (Poland), Tuesday 27 September

Adams led the line well for Scotland and thought he had breached Ukraine’s defense in the latter stages of the first half until he was checked by Valeriy Bondar. Scotland boss Steve Clarke was furious at the touchline and felt he deserved a red card, but Oleksandr Karavaev was on the cover and Adams’ last touch took the ball away from goal. Scotland were spurred on by the perceived unfairness of the decision after the break and Armstrong had two chances to break the deadlock but was thwarted by Trubin before firing home from close range with the goal seemingly at his mercy after a neat one-two with Manchester. United midfielder Scott McTominay.

Team news

Kieran Tierney is back for Scotland in the absence of captain Andy Robertson Oleksandr Zinchenko was missing for Ukraine with a calf injury

Adams had two great chances to head home at the back post but was held up by the post and Ukraine goalkeeper Trubin before sending a cross to Armstrong and the midfielder spurned his third chance in a matter of minutes with a poor bad head. . But Scotland finally got it going when McGinn beat Bondar just inside the box before turning and unleashing a low, drilled strike into the bottom corner. The arrivals of Ryan Fraser and Dykes paid immediate dividends as Newcastle’s European player set up the QPR striker for two goals with a header from a corner.

McGinn: We needed it – the summer hurt us a lot

Scotland captain John McGinn speaking to Premier Sports “We needed it. The summer hurt us a lot. “Tonight we went back to doing what we do well, being awful to play against and showing desire. “We know we are a good team and we owed the fans, the manager and above all ourselves a performance like that.” Speaking to ITV, he added: “We created a lot of chances and wasted them, which has been the story of our summer. But tonight, we were patient, we kept making the chances and luckily, we got them in the end. “What we’ve been missing in the summer is what we showed at Wembley and here against Denmark – toughness, desire, all the attributes of a Scotland team that we kind of ran away from. “It was important that we reset. The manager made it clear that it wasn’t good enough in the summer. “We were playing with a point to prove tonight. We were missing important players and we adapted well, changed formation and it was natural for us.”

Dykes: I changed the game

Lyndon Dykes speaking to Premier Sports: “I was disappointed not to play, but I came on and changed the game. “For Scotland, my goal record has been good and I will continue to be in the right positions and score goals. “It’s a great start to this three-match series. It will give us massive confidence and now we have to continue against Ireland.”

Clarke praises Scotland’s “faith and confidence”.

Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Scotland manager Steve Clarke congratulated his side for an “outstanding” performance as they beat Ukraine 3-0 at Hampden Park. Scotland manager Steve Clarke: “The performance was very good, congratulations to the players. “It was an open game, not many chances, then we got on top and the first goal was always going to be crucial and luckily we got it. “It took us longer than we thought to get the goal, we missed a few chances and then John does what he does well. From there you can see that there is good faith and confidence. “It was nice to have two subs come off the bench and make the score better. “When you’re watching from the sidelines, you know you’re creating chances, you’re waiting – actually waiting – for one of them to go in because you’re creating good chances. You trust the players to get the goal and that’s what happened.”

What’s next?

Scotland’s next game is on Saturday as they face the Republic of Ireland at Hampden Park at 7.45pm. Steve Clarke’s side will then face Ukraine in an away game on Tuesday in Krakow, Poland due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The 7.45pm kick-off at the 15,000 capacity Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Stadium is Scotland’s final Nations League Group B1 game.