Lyndon Dykes double eases Scotland to Nations League win over Ukraine

Two games sit between Scotland and the latest chapter of their great redemption story at international level.

Victory over Ukraine, ultimately with plenty to spare after a superb second-half showing, catapulted Scotland to the top of their Nations League section. Should the Republic of Ireland, who visit Glasgow on Saturday, and Ukraine, whom Scotland face again in Krakow on Tuesday, be held off then first place in group B1 will be secured. The Scots should enter these games full of belief; strong opposition were swatted aside here. The scoreline did not flatter Scotland at all.

Memories of Ukraine’s previous visit to Hampden Park linger in Glasgow. On an evening filled with raw emotion, Oleksandr Petrakov’s team progressed to a World Cup playoff final against Wales with a pretty comfortable 3-1 win. The fixture had been delayed from Match until June following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While Ukraine were hugely popular winners then, defeat was painful for Scotland. In suggesting lessons had been learned, Steve Clarke dispensed with a three-man defence for this clash. Clarke’s decision was made easier by the unavailability of Andy Robertson – three at the back was deployed so he and Kieran Tierney can both play – but this was still a notable switch of approach. It allowed Scott McTominay to to return to midfield; an area in which Ukraine had considerable joy three months ago.

One minute of applause for the late Queen Elizabeth II, a patron of the Scottish FA, was punctured by audible booing from a section of the home support. The atmosphere thereafter was subdued, which was strange for a match of this magnitude. The Nations League offers Scotland prime opportunity to progress to major tournaments, emphasised by their