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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Craig Levein in Hearts No1 Craig Gordon 'twiddling his thumbs' reference to dominant Scotland win

Former Scotland boss Craig Levein has hailed Scotland's win over Ukraine as 'unbelievably good' as he made reference to Craig Gordon 'twiddling his thumbs'.

Steve Clarke's men picked up a stunning 3-0 win to kick-off the international week in style thanks to goals from John McGinn and a double from substitute Lyndon Dykes. The victory took the Dark Blues top of the section with nine points from four games with Republic of Ireland to come on Saturday before a second meeting with Ukraine.

Victory means Scotland currently sit two points clear of last night's opponents with their League B Group 1 destiny now in their own hands ahead of the final two games of the six day triple-header. It wasn't all positive with former Rangers kid Nathan Patterson - a star performer for Everton this season - stretchered off while Celtic star David Turnbull is set to leave the squad through injury. He will join Ibrox No1 Jon McLaughlin, Jacob Brown and Grant Hanley from missing out in this run of games through injury.

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Scotland and Hearts star Craig Gordon is often the man for the big occasion for club and country making huge saves at crucial moments, but he was rarely tested in a solid 90 minutes enjoyed by the Tartan Army. Levein even made reference to how quiet his evening was by saving he caught him 'twiddling his thumbs' at the National Stadium.

Speaking about the 39-year-old with BBC Sportsound host Richard Gordon, Levein analysing a second half clearance and said: "He thought he'd get involved for some reason! He didn't have to come in all honesty.

"To say after the game against a really good side that we dominated the second half, I feel that (we did). I don't know what to say. I am thrilled with the performance and result.

"This makes up for the last Ukraine game. A wonderful evening. It was fantastic. It was an unbelievable night and it was a privilege to be there and watch it. There was chance after chance. Ukraine got rattled.

"I'm looking at one point and Craig Gordon is twiddling his thumbs wondering what the hell was going on. That was an unbelievably good performance. The players ran themselves into the ground."

READ MORE:

- Hearts and Scotland No1 Craig Gordon provides injury update and opens up on season so far

- Hearts injury update on Craig Gordon, Stephen Kingsley, Cammy Devlin and Alex Cochrane

- Hearts debut watch as Orestis Kiomourtzoglou and Robert Snodgrass verdicts given by Robbie Neilson

- Robbie Neilson admits Hearts 'rode their luck' at times but is 'delighted' with win over Motherwell

- Paul Hartley SACKED by Hartlepool as former Hearts and Hibs star leaves role after three months

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