Scotland 4-0 Faroe Islands: McGinn scores double as Scots move up

Scotland moved up to second World Cup qualifying group F with a 4-0 win over Faroe Islands at Hampden.

John McGinn scored twice and Che Adams and Ryan Fraser were on the scoresheet as Steve Clarke’s side earned a valuable three points after drawing their opening two games.

Ryan Fraser tested Gunnar Neilsen in the opening minute but six minutes later Scotland were ahead. Callum McGregor picked out Kieran Tierney’s burst through the back line and the Arsenal defender’s cut back found John McGinn in the centre of the box where he slotted a shot into the corner of the net.

The Faroes didn’t sit back and Craig Gordon had to be smart to tip away a Brandur Hendrickson shot but overall Scotland looked more likely to add to their advantage.

Che Adams had a header on target midway through the first half and moments later the Southampton forward used his pace to get down the left and slide across a pass that came close to putting Dykes clear.

The front pairing looked every bit the new partnership but almost combined to good effect shortly after the half hour mark, Adams flicking a header on to Dykes and only just beaten to the return ball by Neilsen.

McGregor shot over the bar from distance as Scotland pushed for a second before half-time and minutes later Tierney, on one of many forward runs, smacked a fierce shot that Neilsen got behind.

A corner in stoppage time came to nothing and Scotland went in at the break with the lead but without the comfort they might have liked.

Almost drama at the restart when Gordon dropped a cross but Edmundsson couldn’t capitalise with the ball at his feet.

Eight minutes into the second half, Scotland doubled their lead. Tierney found space on the left again and stood up a cross that McGinn rose to plant beyond Neilsen.

Just before the hour mark, Adams got his first goal in Scotland colours. The striker turned his marker, moved across the face of goal and thumped in a low shot from outside the box that nestled into the corner of the net.

With the points beyond reasonable doubt, Scotland added to the scoreline. Andy Robertson crossed to the back post and Ryan Fraser was on hand to head in from close range.

All that was left was to preserve a clean sheet and with six minutes to go, Gordon was called into action again, tipping a Johannesen header over the bar.

The win moved Scotland up to second in qualifying group F, leapfrogging Austria, who lost 4-0 at home to Denmark.