Scotland get their Nations League campaign off to a winning start and move to the top of Group B1 on goal difference. Next up for them is a trip to Republic of Ireland. Armenia drop to third in the group, and they face Ukraine in their next game.
Scotland bounce back with a 2-0 win over Armenia. The hosts got the job done in the first half, with Ralston scoring on his first Scotland start before McKenna thumped in the second. Armstrong also hit the post and McKenna had a second goal ruled out for offside just before the break. Scotland kept pushing after the break, but couldn't add to their advantage despite some good chances. McGinn came close on a number of occasions, and also smacked the bar with a powerful shot late on.
90' + 4' FULL-TIME: SCOTLAND 2-0 ARMENIA.
W. Angulo
Yellow Card
90' + 3' Brown is breaking on the counter and Angulo slides in with a heavy tackle to stop him. He's shown a yellow card for the challenge.
90' + 1' Into the first of three added minutes here as McTominay picks out McGinn on the edge of the box again. He turns away from Angulo before hitting a low shot on goal, but it's too close to Yurchenko.
A. Dashyan
K. Bayramyan
89' Final change for Armenia now, and it's Dashyan that's coming on for Bayramyan.
88' CHANCE! McGregor is off-balance after he skips away from Udo, but he manages to slide it through to McGinn on the edge of the box. He takes the shot first time again, but there's not enough dip on it and it lands on the roof of the net.
J. Brown
C. Adams
87' Adams is the other player making way, with Brown replacing him.
R. Stewart
R. Christie
87' Final changes for Scotland now, and Christie is the first to go off, with Stewart coming on to make his debut.
86' There are some half-hearted shouts for a penalty from Scotland fans as McGinn is bundled over in the box. He was sandwiched between two players, but there wasn't much in it and the referee waves him to his feet.
84' McTominay spots Christie peeling off the back of Haroyan in the middle and tries to pick him out with an early throughball. Angulo is alert though and steps in with a vital interception.
82' Scotland are really pushing for another goal now and Armenia just can't get close to them. It's switched out to McGregor on the right, and he knocks it to Patterson, who picks out McTominay, but his first touch lets him down on the edge of the box.
80' OFF THE BAR! McKenna makes a surging run down the left before squaring it to the edge of the box. Christie lets it run to McGinn behind him, and he hits a powerful first-time shot on goal. It smacks off the crossbar, before Voskanyan blocks McGregor's follow-up shot.
78' Christie bursts forward down the left and he fizzes a dangerous low cross into the middle for Adams. He can't sort his feet out quickly enough though, and Mkoyan makes another block.
A. Hickey
A. Robertson
76' And Robertson is the last player to make way, with Hickey on in his place.
N. Patterson
A. Ralston
76' The first goalscorer, Ralston is also taken off, with Patterson replacing him.
S. McTominay
S. Armstrong
75' There's a triple change for Scotland now, starting with Armstrong going off for McTominay.
73' It's a lovely turn from McGinn to get away from Bayramyan and as soon as he gets into space, he drills a powerful shot on goal. Angulo blocks it, and McGregor can't do anything with the follow-up.
S. Udo
E. Spertsyan
71' Armenia are making another change here, and it's Spertsyan that's going off for Udo.
70' CHANCE! Adams puts Yurchenko under pressure but he keeps his cool to pick out Mkoyan. He is caught on the ball by the forward, but he can't take advantage as he hits his shot straight against the defender.
69' McGinn swings a good free-kick in from the right, but it's just out of McKenna's reach on the edge of the six-yard box. It hits Barseghyan before bouncing kindly back to Yurchenko.
E. Spertsyan
Yellow Card
67' Adams goes down after getting a push in the back, and Spertsyan isn't happy with that. He kicks the ball away in frustration and earns himself a booking.
66' SAVE! Armenia are just starting to grow into this game now and Angulo cuts Scotland's midfield open with a good throughball. Bichakhchyan drags it to the edge of the D before taking the shot, but it's straight at Gordon.
64' It's a simple long ball that catches Scotland out and Bichakhchyan gets the better of Hendry before driving into the box. He has Bayramyan up in support, but chooses to go it alone instead, and Souttar makes a vital interception in front of the keeper.
62' Scotland work it out to their right and Ralston skips away from Hovhannisyan to whip a great cross into the box. Robertson heads it back across goal, but can't pick out a team-mate.
60' Ralston cuts inside and fizzes it to McGinn just on the edge of the box and he touches it through for Adams. He hits the shot early, but Haroyan stays with him and deflects the shot wide.
58' McGinn spins away from Angulo this time and he floats a lovely cross into the far post from the right. Christie just seems to slip as he makes contact with it though, and his header bounces well wide.
56' Christie clips a great cross into the far post, and Ralston rises highest to nod it back down into the middle. Mkoyan scuffs his clearance straight to Adams, but he can't sort his feet out quick enough to have a shot.
54' It's better from Armenia here as Voskanyan darts down the left before lifting it into the middle towards Bichakhchyan. Hendry steps in front of his to cut it out, and Barseghyan can't latch onto the loose ball.
52' Scotland are unbeaten in their last four Nations League matches when leading at half-time (W3 D1), a run that dates back to October 2018 when they lost 2-1 to Israel.
50' Bayramyan is stooping to head the ball, but Hendry gets there first. The midfielder gets an elbow to the head, but he's able to carry on after receiving treatment.
48' Scotland have picked up where they left off in the first half, putting Armenia under pressure early here. Christie slides it through to Adams, who rides the challenge from Mkoyan before lifting a cross into the far post, but nobody is there.
46' Armenia get us back underway for the second half!
V. Bichakhchyan
S. Adamyan
46' And Adamyan is the other player going off, with Bichakhchyan on in his place.
T. Voskanyan
K. Hovhannisyan
46' Kamo Hovhannisyan is also taken off, with Voskanyan on for him.
W. Angulo
A. Grigoryan
46' There's a triple change for Armenia at the break. Grigoryan is the first to make way, with Angulo replacing him.
This is exactly the response that Clarke will have been looking for after the result against Ukraine last week, and he'll be looking for more of the same after the break. Armenia just haven't been able to get going so far, and Caparros might be considering making a change to try and get themselves into the game.
Scotland are in control at the break as they lead Armenia 2-0. The hosts made a bright start to the game, with Armstrong hitting the post before Robertson saw a shot tipped wide in the opening 10 minutes. Ralston headed in the opener to score on his first Scotland start, and McKenna doubled the lead with a thumping header from a corner. The defender thought he'd made it 3-0 just before the break, but he was just offside in the build-up and it didn't count.
45' + 5' HALF-TIME: SCOTLAND 2-0 ARMENIA.
45' + 4' NO GOAL! McKenna had just drifted into an offside position before he headed his first chance against the crossbar. It's tight, but he went too early and the goal won't count. Still 2-0 Scotland!
45' + 3' MCKENNA SCORES AGAIN! McGinn takes the free-kick short to Robertson and he lifts a wonderful ball into the box. Souttar rises to nod it across goal at the far post and McKenna thumps a header off the bar. Scotland keep it alive, and the defender makes no mistakes this time as he thumps it into the back of the net. VAR is checking this though...
V. Haroyan
Yellow Card
45' + 2' Haroyan stretches to take out Christie with a heavy challenge, and he can have no complaints as he's shown a yellow card.
45' + 1' Ralston (23y 204d) is the youngest player to score on his first start for Scotland since Jordan Rhodes versus Australia in August 2012 (22y 192d).
44' McGinn has his back to goal in the box but he holds off Mkoyan long enough to tee up McGregor. He spins away from Grigoryan, but the touch is too heavy and Spertsyan hooks it away.
C. McGregor
Yellow Card
42' McGregor has hold of Bayramyan's shirt as he tugs him back on the halfway line, and he's shown the first yellow card of the game.
J. McGinn
Assist
40' It's a great delivery from McGinn from the corner as he spots McKenna's run to the far post.
S. McKenna
Goal
40' MCKENNA SCORES! McGregor sees a curling effort blocked and Scotland win a corner which is whipped in by McGinn. McKenna gets in front of Kamo Hovhannisyan at the far post and thumps his header into the ground and over the line. Armenia are saying there was a foul in there, but the goal stands. 2-0 Scotland!
38' Armenia are playing themselves into all sorts of trouble with loose passes out from the back. Spertsyan is the latest player to gift the ball back to Scotland, but Adams can't make anything of it.
36' CHANCE! McGinn cuts out Mkoyan's pass this time and loops a cross into the far post. Armstrong nods it down for Christie in the middle, but he can't keep the volley down and it flies over the bar.
34' Ralston cuts out Arman Hovhannisyan's clearance and McGinn plays a first-time pass through the middle for Christie when it comes to him. Mkoyan spots the danger and makes a vital block on the edge of the box.
32' Robertson wins the ball back high upfield and Grigoryan clatters into him to stop the run. The advantage is played as Armstrong picks up the loose ball, but his long-range shot is blocked by Spertsyan.
30' Armenia are trying to have a quick response to going behind, with Bayramyan making a good run down the right. He spins away from McKenna but then slices his throughball straight to Hendry.
S. Armstrong
Assist
28' Armstrong has so much time when he gets the ball from Robertson, and he gets his head up to spot Ralston's last run to the far post.
A. Ralston
Goal
28' RALSTON SCORES! Scotland work it down their left again, and Armstrong cuts inside before curling a lovely cross into the far post. Ralston peels off the back of Kamo Hovhannisyan and thumps his header back across goal and into the far side of the net. 1-0 Scotland!
27' Scotland are still in control here, but they're still struggling to get in behind Armenia. They try to work it through the middle this time, with Armstrong threading it into the box, but it's just behind Adams.
25' Ralston is just receiving some treatment on his head after that heavy collision with Mkoyan. He's passed the checks though and he'll be able to carry on.
24' Robertson has space down the left again, and he lifts a good cross into the six-yard box. It's just too high for Christie, but Ralston is coming in behind to attack it. Mkoyan flicks it away just ahead of him and the wing-back collides with his shoulder instead.
22' Scotland are still patiently trying to break down Armenia's compact shape, and McGinn goes for another diagonal out to Robertson. Haroyan is alert this time though, and gets across to cut it out.
20' McGinn takes the free-kick short to Souttar, who plays it back to the midfielder. He's a long way out, but the space opens up for him again. He rifles an effort on goal, and this one is closer, but it still flies over the bar.
18' Armenia are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment, with Scotland forcing them back with a high press. Bayramyan tries to push his way down the right but is blocked off by McGregor.
16' Robertson loses out to Hambardzumyan but quickly wins it back before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for McGinn. He takes the shot first time, but gets it all wrong, firing it high over the bar.
14' Barseghyan lifts a good ball over the top, and Adamyan times his run perfectly to stay onside. He's away from McKenna, but he tries to cross it instead of going for goal, and there's no one in the box for Armenia.
12' Armenia are unbeaten in their last six Nations League games (W4 D2), including wins in each of the last three. Their last defeat in the competition came back in September 2020 when they lost 1-2 to North Macedonia.
10' Scotland have made a very bright start to this game, and Mkoyan plays himself into trouble by hitting his clearance against Ralston. Armstrong chases it into the box and the defender has to give away a cheap corner to ease the pressure.
8' GREAT SAVE! Ralston leaves Kamo Hovhannisyan behind before fizzing a dangerous cross in from the right, but everyone misses it in the middle. Robertson makes a late run into the box and drills a low shot across goal, which Yurchenko helps wide with a fingertip save.
7' McGinn spins away from Grigoryan and plays a great diagonal pass out to Robertson on the left. He volleys a first-time cross into the box, but there's no one in the middle for Scotland.
5' OFF THE POST! Robertson plays a wonderful deep cross into the far post from the left, and Ralston squares it into the middle first time. Armstrong guides it towards goal, but it bounces back off the bottom of the post.
4' Scotland are enjoying a lot of the possession early on here as Christie tries to carry it forward down the left. His route is blocked off and he's forced to go back to Robertson to find a different way through.
2' Haroyan nicks the ball off Adams and he tries to set Barseghyan away with a long ball over the top. The midfielder uses his hand to bring it down though, and Scotland win the free-kick.
1' Christie gets the game underway for Scotland!
The teams are out on the pitch, the national anthems have been sung, and kick-off is just moments away!
Scotland have never lost a home match in the Nations League in five previous matches (W4 D1), keeping three clean sheets and conceding just three goals in that run.
Joaquin Caparros makes just one change from the win over Ireland last time out as Adamyan comes in for Bichakhchyan, who starts on the bench. Arman Hovhannisyan has shaken off an injury he picked up in that game to start today.
Steve Clarke makes six changes to the side that lost to Ukraine a week ago. Souttar, Hendry, McKenna, Ralston, Armstrong and Christie are all brought in. McTominay, Hanley, Cooper, Gilmour and Hickey drop to the bench, where Patterson is also named after recovering from an ankle injury. Lyndon Dykes is out with a quad problem he picked up in that game.
ARMENIA SUBS: Stanislav Buchnev, Vahan Bichakhchyan, Artak Dashyan, Wbeymar Angulo, Styopa Mkrtchyan, Solomon Udo, Zhiayr Margaryan, Rudik Mkrtchyan, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Henri Avagyan, Edgar Babayan, Taron Voskanyan.
ARMENIA STARTING XI (4-4-1-1): David Yurchenko; Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, Varazdat Haroyan, Hrayr Mkoyan, Arman Hovhannisyan; Kamo Hovhannisyan, Artak Grigoryan, Eduard Spertsyan, Tigran Barseghyan; Khoren Bayramyan; Sergis Adamyan.
SCOTLAND SUBS: Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley, Allan Campbell, Scott McTominay, Liam Kelly, Nathan Patterson, Zander Clark, Billy Gilmour, David Turnbull, Aaron Hickey, Jacob Brown, Ross Stewart.
SCOTLAND STARTING XI (3-4-2-1): Craig Gordon; John Souttar, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna; Anthony Ralston, John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Andy Robertson; Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie; Che Adams.
Scotland get their Nations League campaign underway, trying to bounce back from the disappointment of losing their World Cup play-off semi-final 3-1 against Ukraine a week ago. Before that, they were unbeaten in eight games in all competitions (W6 D2). As for Armenia, they got off to a winning start in the Nations League as they beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 on Saturday. Before that, they'd won just one of their previous 11 outings (D4 L6).
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Nations League Group B1 meeting between Scotland and Armenia at Hampden Park!
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