Scotland edged a 2-0 win over lowly Gibraltar of their first Euro 2024 warm-up match in Portugal.
Steve Clarke’s males had 25 pictures on aim towards the minnows, whom they beat 6-0 of their final assembly in 2015 and who’re ranked 203 on this planet, however solely 5 had been heading in the right direction.
Ryan Christie’s aim from Andy Robertson’s cross simply earlier than the hour staved off the specter of an embarrassing outcome, although Clarke was given one other harm fear as Liam Cooper limped off with an obvious knee downside.
With Lyndon Dykes already out of the Euros, Che Adams staked his declare for a beginning berth up entrance in Germany with a tremendous late aim off the bench after Hearts hot-shot Lawrence Shankland had didn’t impress.
Clarke was with out Scott McTominay, Stuart Armstrong, John Souttar and Ben Doak and had been looking for to finish a seven match winless streak and in addition a scoring drought which dated again to the 3-3 draw with Norway in November.
FULL TIME: Gibraltar 0-2 Scotland.
Objectives from Ryan Christie and Ché Adams safe victory on the Estádio Algarve.#GIBSCO pic.twitter.com/2O2RtlVB4j
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) June 3, 2024
Scotland noticed appeals for an early penalty for a pull on Ryan Porteous waved away earlier than Christie drove ahead and noticed a fierce left-footed shot tipped across the publish by keeper Jaylan Hankins
Robertson’s subsequent nook was headed into the bottom and over the bar by the unmarked Grant Hanley and moments later the Liverpool full-back darted to the byline and pulled again for James Forrest, profitable his first cap in three years, who may solely side-foot inches previous the close to publish with the aim at his mercy.
31-goal Hearts striker Shankland whipped a curling right-footed shot large of the upright from the sting of the realm whereas Christie may solely steer a far-post volley excessive and large because the guests piled on the strain.
Forrest blazed properly over the bar from distance simply earlier than the half-hour whereas one other Robertson cross from the left byline was headed off beam by the well-placed Kenny McLean, who couldn’t fairly get on the tip of an inswinging cross from Christie moments later.
Hanley’s header from one other Robertson nook was clawed off the road by Hankins, with Porteous’ lunge on the free ball blocked on the road, and Hanley additionally sliced a volley large after a flick from debutant Ross McCroarie.
Keeper Zander Clark, making a uncommon begin, was solely referred to as into motion as soon as, to maintain out Ethan Britto’s angled strike on the break simply earlier than half-time.
It was Gibraltar’s solely effort whereas Scotland had managed to get simply three of their 20 first-half efforts heading in the right direction.
Clarke withdrew Hanley on the break with Cooper approaching and he looped a header properly over from a Billy Gilmour nook two minutes after his introduction.
Cooper noticed one other downward header saved by Hankins however the impasse was lastly damaged simply earlier than the hour when Robertson’s cross to the far publish was managed by Christie earlier than stepping inside his marker and lashing residence contained in the close to publish for his first Scotland aim in two years and sixth total.
Robertson and Forrest had been withdrawn for Che Adams and Kieran Tierney halfway by the second half and although Tierney went down with an ankle knock virtually instantly, he was swiftly again up.
Within the ultimate 20 minutes Cooper was pressured off after a heavy problem appeared to trigger a knee downside, with Scott McKenna approaching, however Clarke’s day ended on a excessive as John McGinn spun within the space and clipped an ideal cross to the again publish for Adams to thunder residence a tremendous volley for his first aim in 11 appearances for his nation.
It put the gloss on only a third Scotland win of their final 20 pleasant video games whereas inflicting a thirteenth straight defeat on Gibraltar.
