Ralston and McKenna ease Scotland to cathartic win over Armenia

Steve Clarke had implored Scotland to “move on” from recent, crushing disappointment and, albeit against an extremely limited Armenia, his side did not let him down.

Celtic’s Anthony Ralston shone on his first senior international start, scoring a fine opener as, advancing at every opportunity, he not only demonstrated precisely why right wing-back has become such an important position in the modern game but suggested his country’s horizons might not be quite so bleakly narrow after all. “It was a very good performance against a very defensive team,” Clarke said. “By getting in some good positions we eventually broke them down.”

Scotland fans had hoped this second‑tier Nations League fixture would become a full-on party marking World Cup qualification. Instead Ukraine put paid to that fantasy in last week’s Qatar 2022 playoff semi-final before themselves succumbing to Wales in Sunday’s final.

If Welsh success failed to provoke delight in these parts, the local mood was further dampened by ScotRail’s cancellation of all post-match services into central Glasgow on Wednesday night. With the final train departing a minute into the second half, fans were urged to exit Hampden early. Those who sat through 90 minutes and torrential rain saw Clarke’s side enjoy a thoroughly restorative victory against exceptionally deep sitting opponents.

With Joaquin Caparros’s visitors redefining the term “packed defence” it took concerted advances from Scotland’s two wing-backs to start unhinging the most obdurate of rearguards. First Stuart Armstrong’s shot brushed a post after Ralston’s adroit cushioning of Andy Robertson’s delivery, then Robertson saw a shot of his own finger-tipped clear by David Yurchenko.

Having been thrashed 9-0 by