STEVE Clarke last night hailed his on-form striker Lyndon Dykes for supplying the late winner against the Faroe Islands that took Scotland to the verge of a Qatar 2022 play-off place.

Dykes netted in the 86th minute of a tense match in Torshavn to secure a 1-0 triumph and become the first man since Colin Stein in 1969 to score in four consecutive matches for the national team.

Andy Robertson and his team mates can secure second spot in Group F and a place in the second round if they overcome Moldova in Chisinau in their next match next month.

Clarke admitted that it had been a nervy evening and confessed he was relieved when VAR ruled that Dykes had not handled the ball in the build-up to his goal.

But he lauded the Australia-born Queens Park Rangers forward for his contribution to his adopted homeland’s cause since pledging his allegiances to the Scotland earlier this year.

“It says Lyndon is in a good place, a great addition to the squad since he chose to play for Scotland,” he said.

“We’re all grateful for that because he’s always committed and he always scores goals.

“We ground out the result and three points is three points, the same as Saturday (Scotland beat Israel 3-2 at Hampden). Let’s not be too sad about it.

“It’s six points, another couple of wins in a row, Lyndon gets another goal which is great. We just have to make sure that next month we finish the job.”

Clarke added: “VAR has been quite kind to us and fortunately it came down on our side again. There was nothing to say it should be disallowed, so they got the decision right.”

Dykes and Ryan Christie both picked up bookings which rule them out of the Moldova match, but Clarke is confident that Scotland will be able to cope. 

“At this stage of the tournament, the way its structured, you are always going to get yellow cards,” he said. “Others will come in.  

 

“We need three more points to secure second place and that will be the aim of the next two games.”