Che Adams scored a hat-trick as Scotland got back to winning ways by beating lowly Liechtenstein 4-0 in a friendly.
Steve Clarke’s side were not going to learn much from the team ranked 205th in the world but there was a much-needed confidence boost for striker Adams, who sent his team to victory with three goals and an assist.
After scoring just once in his last 19 caps, Adams’ first came when he picked up a loose ball after Lennon Miller had an effort from Andy Robertson’s cleared corner. The Scotland forward made no mistake by lashing the ball home.
Miller, on his first Scotland start, was involved in the second goal too as he won the ball from a high press on the edge of the Liechtenstein box. The loose ball broke to Adams, who rolled past hapless goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel.
Che Adams made it 2-0 at half-time from Scotland’s first two shots on target
Scotland faced no shots on target throughout the game, but their lead was nearly halved on the stroke of half-time as Kenny Kindle’s solo run nearly resulted in him finding the top corner. Ross Doohan, making his Scotland debut after replacing the much-maligned Cieran Slicker, watched that effort over the bar.
But Scotland took that warning to heart by finding a third just three minutes after half-time. After John McGinn hit the foot of the post, Anthony Ralston’s cross was flicked on by Adams, leaving George Hirst to fire home his first Scotland goal from close range.
Scotland’s George Hirst celebrates getting off the mark for his country
Scotland used their lead to add Andy Irving, Kieron Bowie, Connor Barron and Josh Doig to their debutants list as the game descended into walking pace, but there was still time for Adams to complete his treble from close range with the last kick of the game.
Clarke’s side will have bigger tests than a team that has even lost to San Marino, but there are important World Cup qualifiers for the rest of the year, while the victory at least partially made amends for last week’s dreadful home defeat to Iceland.
Adams: Scoring for Scotland hasn’t happened much!
Adams has scored the first hat-trick for Scotland since John McGinn’s against San Marino nearly six years ago
Scotland hat-trick hero Che Adams to BBC Sport:
“We knew we needed to put things right from the last game against Iceland and I’m happy to be on the scoresheet to help the team win.
“It’s nice to score for Scotland, it’s not happened much since I’ve started here. Anytime I score is a real pleasure.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game, the conditions weren’t great but it was very professional.
“It’s important to sign off this year with a win, the fans – it means so much to them. So I’m happy we put things right from the Iceland game.”
Clarke: It’s still a disappointing camp
Scotland manager Steve Clarke to BBC Sport:
“It’s a still a disappointing camp because we didn’t play as we can play in the game at Hampden. I’m certainly going to carry that into August.
“There was a little bit of hurt and anger in the dressing room. I think you saw that in the first 20-25 minutes when the players were really on it.
“Hopefully we can harness that and take it into the autumn games. But these two games have no bearing on the future.
“If you look at the Nations League final against Portugal and Spain, in recent times this Scotland team has shown how competitive it can be against that kind of team.”
Can Scotland play two up front in the future? “Really pleased for Che, we know what he can bring for us. He’s been with us for a number of years now and he’s a top-quality striker.
“Strikers need goals and it’s been a little while since he’s got one, so I knew he was desperate to score. He got an early one which releases the tension.
“I left him on because I knew he’d be desperate for that hat-trick and the assist for George is big as well. Playing two strikers and they both score, it’s nice.
“It’s not the first time I’ve done it. When you go back to playing Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams up front, it’s something we’ve used before.
“Most teams come here and win against Liechtenstein but not many score four, so that’s nice as well.”
Scotland’s World Cup qualifying fixtures
September 5: Denmark (A), kick-off 7.45pm
September 8: Belarus (A), kick-off 7.45pm
October 9: Greece (H), kick-off 7.45pm
October 12: Belarus (H), kick-off 5pm
November 15: Greece (A), kick-off 7.45pm
November 18: Denmark (H), kick-off 7.45pm
