
Scotland stretched their unbeaten run to over a 12 months as Lyndon Dykes’ second worldwide aim secured a Nations League win over Slovakia.
The Queens Park Rangers ahead slammed house the winner within the second half to earn a victory that leaves Steve Clarke’s males high of Group B2.
Scotland final suffered defeat in Russia 12 months in the past, and whereas they didn’t make too many possibilities at an empty Hampden, the Scots have now recorded 5 wins and two attracts within the seven video games since that defeat.
Clarke’s facet now welcome the Czech Republic to Glasgow on Wednesday.
Regardless of Thursday’s heroics to see off Israel in a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final penalty shootout, Scotland obtained criticism for his or her lack of depth and leading edge, and their first-half displaying in opposition to the Slovaks did little to reply these critics.
The sport continued to lack urgency because the half wore on, Scott McTominay and Stephen O’Donnell each dragged hopeful efforts large of aim earlier than Branislav Ninaj denied Dykes with an excellent problem as the previous Livingston man raced via on aim.
The ensuing nook noticed Motherwell’s Declan Gallagher rise highest, solely to look a header large of the goal as Clarke’s males went into the break failing to register a shot on aim.
Nonetheless, the Scots got here out with intent early within the second interval as John McGinn noticed a speculative effort drag large earlier than Dykes’ opener. Ryan Fraser fed Stephen O’Donnell on the best, and his delicate cross into the field discovered Dykes in house to complete from shut vary.
The guests tried to make a fast response as a nook finally fell to Jan Gregus, however his effort was smothered on the second try by David Marshall.
Dykes then made approach for Oli McBurnie, and the Sheffield United striker got here near getting his first Scotland aim after he crashed a header off the bar from a Fraser cross.
Man of the match – Ryan Fraser

What did we be taught?
On an attacking entrance, it regarded like the identical points from Thursday had been arising once more after a pedestrian first half. However Clarke might be happy together with his group’s depth ranges in spells throughout a second interval which noticed Dykes rating the winner.
Nonetheless, what is going to please the supervisor essentially the most once more is the again three recording a second successive clear sheet. After criticism final month, McTominay now seems settled within the function and Gallagher has carried out effectively when known as upon. Additionally, Andrew Considine didn’t put a foot incorrect on his debut and that may solely give Clarke confidence in his defensive choices going into subsequent month’s play-off.
Match stats
- Scotland have saved a clear sheet in successive matches for the primary time since a run of three World Cup qualifiers in September/October 2017.
- Slovakia are winless in 4 Nations League matches since beating Ukraine 4-1 in November 2018, scoring solely twice since.
- Scotland have gained a aggressive sport 1-0 for the primary time since October 2017 – their opponents that day had been Slovakia.
- Lyndon Dykes has scored 4 objectives in his final seven appearances for Scotland and QPR, netting in two of his final three video games for the nationwide facet.
What they mentioned
Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke: “It was a great efficiency from begin to end. The system labored effectively. It was a great stable defensive efficiency and we regarded a menace going ahead.
“[Scott] McTominay, who supposedly could not play right-sided centre again, was wonderful once more, Declan Gallagher was wonderful and Andrew Considine did not let himself down tonight. He was actually good.”
What’s subsequent?
Each side proceed their Nation League campaigns on Wednesday (19:45 BST) as Scotland tackle the Czech Republic at Hampden and Slovakia welcome Israel.
Participant of the match
ConsidineAndrew Considine
Scotland
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Squad quantity23Participant identifyConsidine
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyDykes
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Squad quantity17Participant identifyFraser
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyMcLean
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Squad quantity3Participant identifyRobertson
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Squad quantity7Participant identifyMcGinn
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Squad quantity4Participant identifyMcTominay
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Squad quantity1Participant identifyMarshall
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Squad quantity5Participant identifyGallagher
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyO’Donnell
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Squad quantity16Participant identifyFleck
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Squad quantity11Participant identifyMcBurnie
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyMcGregor
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Squad quantity13Participant identifyPaterson
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Squad quantity8Participant identifyJack
Slovakia
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Squad quantity17Participant identifyHamsik
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Squad quantity8Participant identifyDuda
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Squad quantity11Participant identifySafranko
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Squad quantity14Participant identifySchranz
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Squad quantity7Participant identifyHaraslin
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyBozenik
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Squad quantity6Participant identifyGregus
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Squad quantity16Participant identifyNinaj
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Squad quantity4Participant identifyValjent
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Squad quantity22Participant identifyKoscelnik
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyHolubek
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyBero
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Squad quantity12Participant identifyKuciak
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyRusnák
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Squad quantity20Participant identifyMak
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Squad quantity19Participant identifyKucka
Line-ups
Scotland
- 1Marshall
- 4McTominay
- 5Gallagher
- 23Considine
- 2O’Donnell
- 16FleckBooked at 50minsSubstituted forMcGregorat 72′minutes
- 7McGinnSubstituted forJackat 89′minutes
- 14McLean
- 3RobertsonBooked at 74mins
- 9DykesBooked at 38minsSubstituted forMcBurnieat 72′minutesBooked at 83mins
- 17FraserSubstituted forPatersonat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Jack
- 10McGregor
- 11McBurnie
- 12McLaughlin
- 13Paterson
- 15Porteous
- 18Taylor
- 19Shankland
- 20McCrorie
- 21McCrorie
- 22McGinn
Slovakia
- 12Kuciak
- 22Koscelnik
- 16Ninaj
- 4Valjent
- 2Holubek
- 21BeroSubstituted forDudaat 22′minutes
- 6Gregus
- 17HamsikBooked at 20minsSubstituted forKuckaat 62′minutesBooked at 83mins
- 14SchranzSubstituted forMakat 62′minutes
- 9BozenikSubstituted forSafrankoat 76′minutes
- 7HaraslinBooked at 50minsSubstituted forRusnákat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 3Vavro
- 5Gyömbér
- 8Duda
- 10Rusnák
- 11Safranko
- 13Hrosovsky
- 15Pauschek
- 18Sabo
- 19Kucka
- 20Mak
- 23Greif
Reside Textual content
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Match ends, Scotland 1, Slovakia 0.
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Second Half ends, Scotland 1, Slovakia 0.
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Juraj Kucka (Slovakia) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Oliver McBurnie (Scotland).
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Juraj Kucka.
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Martin Koscelnik.
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Albert Rusnák (Slovakia) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Paterson (Scotland).
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Ondrej Duda.
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Nook, Scotland. Conceded by Juraj Kucka.
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Substitution, Scotland. Ryan Jack replaces John McGinn.
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Try missed. Pavol Safranko (Slovakia) left footed shot from exterior the field is shut, however misses the highest left nook.
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Martin Koscelnik (Slovakia) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Paterson (Scotland).
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Substitution, Scotland. Callum Paterson replaces Ryan Fraser.
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Juraj Kucka (Slovakia) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Juraj Kucka (Slovakia).
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John McGinn (Scotland) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Oliver McBurnie (Scotland) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Jakub Holubek (Slovakia) wins a free kick within the defensive half.