Sorry Scotland thrashed by Russia to leave Nations League as their only Euro 2020 hope

Scotland’s ruinous Euro 2020 qualifying campaign inflicted even more misery on the Tartan Army in Moscow as Russia posted a second victory over Steve Clarke’s side, with Artem Dzyuba directing the wrecker’s ball. The Russian captain, who also hit the crossbar, delivered two second-half strikes, supplemented by a spectacular drive from Magomev Ozdoev and a late shot by Aleksandr Golovin.

Well before kick-off it became known that Cyprus had achieved a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan in Astana, a double reproach to the Scots, whose campaign began so badly with a 3-0 defeat at the same venue and who would go into this match four points behind the Cypriots – in third place and whom they meet away next month – a situation not foreseen when this campaign got under way in March.

Moreover, the Scots looked ominously fragile in defence and well short of menace at the other end of the field. Liam Palmer, on his second appearance at this level, replaced Stephen O’Donnell at right back and the Sheffield Wednesday man had for company Michael Devlin, whose league appearances for Aberdeen in the current campaign added up to a grand total of four.

John Fleck was another debutant, taking his place in midfield between John McGinn and Callum McGregor. Ahead of that trio was Oliver Burke, whose flanking companions were Robert Snodgrass and Ryan Fraser.

Burke, whose transfer history of £28 million in deals has sat heavily on his shoulders, found himself existing on short commons. By the interval, he had seen a single tantalising glimpse of Guilharme Marinato’s goal, a monetary vision that was shut off when the Alaves striker ran out of yards and options on one of Scotland’s sporadic counter-attacks.

Snodgrass had suffered the same fate when he strode forward from half-way line to penalty area and the lack of a target for the out ball, a situation that worsened when Burke took an elbow in the small of the back from Georgy Dzhikiya, so that it was no surprise when Lawrence Shankland replaced him for the start of the second half.

By that stage, the Scots had served up a decent performance, with David Marshall having had to make one save of note, a parry from Aledksandr Golovin shortly before the break. Russia, though, increased their tempo and pressure and inflicted damage twice within four minutes.

The first wound came from a corner kick which arrived almost on the penalty spot where Charlie Mulgrew allowed Dzyuba to spin off him for a volleyed finish high past Marshall. The goalkeeper was again exposed fatally at Russia’s next thrust, when Golovin played the ball back for Ozdoev to thrash a drive into the net from fully 35 yards.

The Scots’ torment was not finished, as Dzyuba demonstrated when he was allowed to stab home despite being in the midst of three dark blue jerseys, two yards out.

Teams

Russia (4-3-3): Marinato (Lokomotiv Moscow); Fernandes (CSKA), Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow), Kudryashov (Sochi); Ionov (Rostov), Barinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Ionov (Rostov); Golovin (Monaco), Dyzuba (Zenit), Zhirkov (Zenit).

Subs (unused): Dzanaev (g) (Sochi), Petrov (Krasnodar), Chistyakov (Rostov), Lunev (Zenit), Ignatiev (Lokomotov Moscow), Kuzyaev (Zenit), Bakaev (Spartak Moscow), Cheryshev (Valencia), Komlichenko (Mlada), Belyaev (Arsenal Tula), Karavaev (Zenit), Akhmetov (CSKA).

Scotland (4-3-3): Marshall (Wigan); Palmer, Devlin (Aberdeen), Mulgrew (Wigan) Robertson (Liverpool); McGinn (Aston Villa), Fleck (Sheffield United), McGregor (Celtic); Snodgrass (West Ham), Burke (Alaves (Shankland (Dundee United) h-t), Fraser (Bournemouth (Christie (Celtic) 67).

Subs (unused): McGillivray (g) (Portsmouth), McLaughlin (g), (Sunderland), Russell (Sporting Kansas), Forrest (Celtic), O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Taylor (Celtic), Armstrong (Southampton), Gallagher (Motherwell), Findlay (Kilmarnock). Booked: Fleck.