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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gordon Parks

Scotland player ratings as Gilmour, McTominay and Dykes fold against Ukraine's men of destiny

Ropey Scotland came up short against a dominant Ukraine side who are are closing in on World Cup glory.

The war-torn nation romped to a 3-1 win as Artem Dovbyk finished the game off after Callum McGregor had pulled one back.

Scotland got a lifeline in the 79th minute after trailing 2-0 but, in truth, Steve Clarke 's men looked out their depth for long spells.

And now the World Cup dream is over for another campaign as the national team face another answer-seeking session after falling short again.

Here's how they rated.

CRAIG GORDON: Stunning eighth minute stop to tip Tsygankov's strike over the top and excelled himself with point-blank block to deny Yarmolenko. Exposed and left stranded at Yarmolenko lobbed goal, Yaremchuk's second or Dovbyk's third. 8

AARON HICKEY: Competitive debut for the Bologna kid and displayed his versatility by operating on the right but couldn't get a handle on Yarmolenko. Too big a step for the teenager who struggled to either contain attacks or get forward down his flank and outmuscled by Yaremchuk at second. 5

SCOTT McTOMINAY:
Moments of real discomfort as he struggled to cope with slick Ukrainian one-touch attacks and was bamboozled by Zinchenko in early chance. Lacked cohesion with his fellow backline and dragged around by Ukrainian strikers. 4


GRANT HANLEY: Caught out by Yarmolenko twice in first 20 minutes as back three went man for man. Played Yarmolenko onside for opener. Lost Yaremchuk at Ukraine's second and complicit in a defensive debacle. 4

LIAM COOPER: Uncertain and uncomfortable on right side of back three during ropey and disjointed first half hour. Failed to track run of Yarmolenko at opener and cut an increasingly frustrated figure and replaced. 4

ANDY ROBERTSON: Tasked with taming the mercurial Yarmolenko and had his work cut out but still a driving force down the left as skipper managed to get free as Scotland found promising final third moments in closing moments. 6

CALLUM McGREGOR: Pivotal player and came to life late on after struggling to assert any control as he was passed through by slick Ukrainian attacks. Unlucky to have deflected shot fall wide before late effort found the net in grandstand finale. 7

BILLY GILMOUR
: Wiped out by Yaremchuk late challenge in sixth minute but recovered but another who couldn't influence the game as he was dominated and swamped in midfield. Starved of decent possession and started picking passes when it was too late. 6

JOHN McGINN: Volleyed half-chance over the top before the half hour mark. Somehow managed to nod wide from a few yards out in 67th minute sitter. Another shot deflected over the top to cap agony. Booked. 6


CHE ADAMS: Dovetailed with Dykes but never close enough to his sidekick to pose any major threat. Usual tireless display but carried late goal threat with powerful 75th minute shot as Scotland offered a late flurry. 7

LYNDON DYKES:
Potent early aerial threat and early header almost found Adams before being clattered by Malinovskyi. Booked for an elbow on Stepanenko and sacrificed at the break for Christie in a bid to avoid another half of going route one. 5

Subs on:

RYAN CHRISTIE: On at the break in bid to bring some attacking guile and brought a different dimension to attack as he linked play in final third. 6

STUART ARMSTRONG: Replaced Gilmour and added an attacking verve to the side to trigger a late charge to try and rescue the situation. Weak attempt easily saved. 3

JACK HENDRY: On in the 67th minute for Cooper but it did little to resolve defensive issues and careless too often with distribution. 3


Subs not used: Marshall, Kelly, O'Donnell, Souttar, McKenna, Stewart, Brown, Ferguson, Taylor

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