How Scotland rated as they defeated Moldova to clinch World Cup playoff spot
STEVE CLARKE'S Scotland banished the nerves to put in an accomplished team display as they booked a place in the World Cup play-offs with a match to spare.
Goals from Nathan Patterson and Che Adams demoralised the luckless Moldovans - with Craig Gordon's late penalty save the final nail in the coffin.
The Scots now have the chance to bow out of their group campaign in style with a win against undefeated group winners Denmark - before the chance to book their passage to Qatar in the World Cup play-offs
Here SunSport's chief football writer Robert Grieve runs the rule over the national team on a night where there were NO failures.
Craig Gordon: Simply refused to be beaten. Pulled off one incredible first-half save before his heroics late on to keep out a penalty. Arguably in the best form of his career. 10
Jack Hendry: Big centre-back played well. Good on the ball when he had to bring it out from the back and didn’t put a foot wrong defensively. 7
Liam Cooper: Picked in the team for his strength and natural aggression with the Leeds skipper attacking every high ball in the air like his life depended on it. 7
Kieran Tierney: Cruised through the 90 minutes. Did everything asked of him at the back with the Arsenal star stepping into the game when he wanted to. 7
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Nathan Patterson: Was just never going to miss when his chance came to score after 38 minutes. Roared with pride after the VAR check. Goal clearly meant the world to him. 9
Billy Gilmour: You just wouldn’t have known he’s not been playing for Norwich every week. His touch and awareness was just top class with young midfielder oozing confidence. 8
Callum McGregor: Did what he does. Controlling performance from the Celtic skipper. Passing was crisp and sharp and he read the Moldova’s attacks when they got forward.8
Andy Robertson: Powered down the left flank with real verve and picked the right pass in good areas. Wasn’t up against anything to cause him problems defensively so could bomb up the park.8
Stuart Armstrong: Took him a while to get going. His delivery from corners was also poor with crosses hitting the first man. But grew into the game and became a threat.7
John McGinn: His name rang around the ground all night long with the Tartan Army loving his every touch of the ball. Battled hard to win the ball and keep it. 8
Che Adams: Had an early goal disallowed for off-side and another one chalked off in the second half. But managed to get the all important second goal to kill the game.7
Subs:
Kevin Nisbet (1) was thrown on when the game was won and didn’t manage to get a chance to score.
Kenny McLean (1) showed nice touches.
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Jacob Brown (1) given his Scotland debut late on.
David Turnbull (1) on for the last few seconds.