Scotland 3-0 Ukraine: Dykes brace puts superb Scots top of the group

Scotland beat Ukraine 3-0 in the Nations League with a second-half flurry from John McGinn and substitute Lyndon Dykes, who grabbed a brace with two headed goals.

After losing the World Cup play-off to the same opponent three months ago, Steve Clarke's men dominated the encounter this time.

The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when McGinn slotted the ball into the bottom corner after receiving a deflected pass.

Ten minutes later, Ryan Fraser’s whipped corner was headed home well by Dykes. 

Lightning struck twice as the exact same source created the third goal — the two substitutes combined from a corner again to cap off a fantastic night for Scotland.

The result means the Scots are now top of their Nations League group, two points clear of Ukraine with two games to play.

Goalscorer McGinn touched on Scotland's disappointing summer and how he was playing with a point to prove.

He said: "What we had been missing in the summer was what we showed at Wembley, what we showed here against Denmark — grit, desire and all the characteristics of a Scottish team which we had kind of got away from. 

"So it was important that we reset and the manager made it clear that it wasn't good enough. We were playing with a point to prove tonight."

Young Everton right-back Nathan Patterson was forced off the pitch on a stretcher during the first half and Clarke gave his update on the situation. 

He said: "It doesn't look too good when they go off on a stretcher, he felt something on his leg, we'll wait and see what the medics say.

"Hopefully it is not too serious and it is not too long."

Second-half hero Dykes reflected on the overall performance and the impact he had coming on the pitch. 

He said: "We've been working hard on that, the managers changed the shape so to get the result tonight and a few goals is very good.

"I wanted to impact the game. I was disappointed that I wasn't playing. The manager went with Che [Adams] because there's good competition there but I came on, changed the game, and we got the three points so that was good."