Tierney integral, Ralston a contender – things Scotland learned in June fixtures

Scotland rounded off a largely disappointing June programme with a 4-1 win over nine-man Armenia on Tuesday.

Two Nations League victories over the Armenians could not atone for the World Cup play-off defeat by Ukraine and a poor display in a 3-0 defeat against Republic of Ireland. But Scotland remain in the hunt for top spot in Group B1 at the halfway stage.

Here, the PA news agency looks at four of the main takeaways from the summer international fixtures.

The Arsenal defender, who is recovering from knee surgery, was the main reason Steve Clarke employed a three-man central defence for Scotland. The system allows left-backs Tierney and Andy Robertson to play effectively in the same team following an earlier experiment with the former Celtic player turning out at right-back for his country. Tierney has shone on the left of the back three and gets forward to good effect, either outside of Robertson or driving through more central areas. But the system does not look as effective without him in the side and Clarke switched to a flat back four during both defeats. Scotland have lost three of the last five internationals that Tierney has missed and the defence struggled for the first half hour in Yerevan.

The Scotland boss admitted in Yerevan that Scotland players had been toiling from the effects of a long season with Callum McGregor, for example, making his 63rd appearance of the campaign. The Scotland coaching staff have their work cut out to ensure players are both fresh and match-fit for the June internationals – Ryan Christie made his last club appearance on May 3 while Robertson played in the Champions League final 25 days later. Only two games are pencilled in for next June but the likes of John McGinn and Robertson