Andy Robertson grabs Scotland a Nations League playoff blockbuster after a Warsaw wonder – 5 talking points
Andy Robertson headed home a sensational injury time winner in his 80th cap to keep Scotland’s hopes of saving their Nations League Group A skins alive.
The Scots blazed ahead in the third minute when John McGinn made it two goals in two with his 20th international strike. And what a goal it was as the Aston Villa man slid home from the edge of the box after Billy Gilmour’s pass cut open the Polish defence for the ever-impressive Ben Doak to then produce a perfect cut back for McGinn. Poland wasted three big first half opportunities with Craig Gordon denying Karol Swiderski and Adam Buksa while Swiderrski rippled the side netting when clean through. Gilmour cracked the crossbar and Scott McTominay hit the post as the Scots looked to double their lead before the break.
However there was nothing that could stop Kamil Piatkowski as the defender arrowed a sensational leveller past Gordon, from 20 yards, in the 59th minute. Lukasz Skorupski brilliantly saved Lyndon Dykes’ header as Scotland hunted down a winner. And it arrived in the third minute of injury time as Robertson thumped home John Souttar’s cross to ensure Clarke’s troops jump above the Poles and into third spot.Here's 5 talking points:
Still an A Team
For now! A play-off to avoid relegation looms. But for the best part of an hour it looked like the miracle was on. And that somehow Scotland were going to grab the most unlikely of second spots in League A. But Josko Gvardiol’s leveller for Croatia against Portugal means we have to make do with third. But even that looked mission impossible a month ago. And if anything the last three results - seven points against the might of Portugal, Croatia and Poland - proves we can live with the big guns. It’ll more than likely be pot 3 now for the World Cup qualifying draw. But on the evidence of this Nations League campaign there’s reason to believe.
Captain Fantastic
What a way for skipper Andy Robertson to celebrate his 80th cap - which moves him level third with Darren Fletcher in Scotland’s all-time appearance list. His thumping header in injury time was his fourth goal for his county and fittingly it came in the same venue where he won his first cap, 10 years ago, in a 1-0 friendly win over the Poles. At 30 you’d think there’s every chance the left back could be the first to bust Kenny Dalglish’s record 102 caps. Despite suffering a couple of slack moments early on last night the captain constantly looked to get on the ball and made a few important interceptions defensively too. It’s been a remarkable decade for the Liverpool man who was still a Dundee United player when he made his that debut in Warsaw in March 2014 - just a year after he’d left Queen’s Park for Tannadice. And he remains a huge figure for Clarke as he, like the boss, looks to reach a first World Cup in two years’ time.
Super John passes Super Ally
John McGinn was back in from the start following his late winner against Croatia. And he wasted no time repaying Clarke, sliding home a third minute opener from Ben Doak’s cutback - the same duo that did the damage against the Croats. It was the Aston Villa man’s 20th international goal and moves him clear of Ally McCoist into fifth in the all-time Scotland goals standings. He’s now two behind Hibernian legend Lawrie Reilly in fourth and 10-off Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law at the top of the standings. But more than just the goal, McGinn is back looking like his old self in the navy blue after a 12-month goalless run where his form was widely questioned. Driving runs and using his famous derriere to protect the ball had the Tartan Army back in full voice for their talisman.
Doaky Coaky
Steve Clarke’s pre-match tease about leaving out Ben Doak proved to be nothing more than a bluff. Whether the Poles fell for it or not we’ll never know but the wee winger was superb again. Another assist for McGinn’s opener - that’s now four goal involvements in six caps for the teenager. And after a man of the match performance against Croatia on Friday where he had Josko Gvardoil on toast it was the turn of Roma's Nicola Zalewski and Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior to be left dazed by the Doaky cokey.
The teen set up four chances overall but Clarke’s decision to remove him after 65 minutes had punters scratching their heads. The boss will no doubt point to tiredness in the youngster but he looked to still have a bit left in the tank. He’s by no way the finished article, which is reason to be excited in itself, but Doak certainly has the ability to get fans off their seat every time he takes the ball in and runs at his opponent. More than that he fills team mates with confidence and takes Scotland up a level by his mere presence. Surely now a certain starter moving forward.
Case for Defence
Much has rightly been made of the impact of Doak in an attacking sense. But another huge factor in the post-Euros turnaround has been the return of Clarke's famed defensive resilience. Piatkowski’s rocket meant there was to be no third clean sheet on the spin. But one goal conceded in a trio of games against Portugal, Croatia and now Poland is prime Clarke. Credit to Craig Gordon too, the 41-year-old has been back between the sticks for all three of those and another two big saves midway through first half helped secure this point. Scotland had to suffer for long periods against a Polish side who were tidy on the ball and managed to get in behind no doubt too often for Clarke’s liking. But when it came to putting bodies on the line they weren’t found wanting - John Souttar’s second half block on the goalline to deny Jakub Kaminski a prime example.