Ben Doak proves he cares little for reputations as the youngster runs Man City defender Josip Gvardiol ragged to help Scotland clinch crucial triumph over Croatia
Ben Doak, it would seem, cares very little about reputations. Whether it’s tasked with tracking a Ballon D’Or winner in Luka Modric or gliding past Manchester City stopper Josip Gvardiol, it matters not to the Liverpool youngster.
Even at the age of just 19, he is fast-becoming Scotland’s main man.
On a bleak and miserable evening in Glasgow’s south side, the former Celtic prospect lit up proceedings time and time again, seemingly on a one-man mission to get his side going.
It was needed too, in the early stages at least, as Steve Clarke’s side were restricted to virtual spectators, such was Croatia’s dominance.
Moving the ball around with ease - and given far too much time to do so it must be said - Modric and Co had the Scots chasing shadows.
When Clarke’s side did get it, they handed it back to the opposition at the first opportunity. It was a frustrating watch.
Ben Doak celebrates John McGinn's winning goal after his surging run led to the chance
The young winger gave experienced Manchester City defender Josip Gvardiol a torrid time
It took until the 18-minute mark for the 50-odd thousand or so home fans packed into Hampden to have something to get excited about, and of course it was Doak who provided the much-needed moment of magic.
Glued to the touchline and with Gvardiol for company, the diminutive winger flicked the ball through his opponents’ legs and raced towards goal.
It was cheeky. It was arrogant. It was sublime.
From then, the message was simple. Get the ball right.
It’s hard to recall the last time a player wearing the dark blue of Scotland was able to get bums off seats with such regularity. Every time he got it, anticipation around the ground bubbled.
He’s far from the finished article, of course. But my goodness it’s brilliant to see a player with so much potential show such little fear.
He should have been played in by Billy Gilmour shortly after the break, then wasted a decent chance at the back-post moments later. But that couldn’t overshadow another excellent evening for the on-loan Middlesbrough man.
And it was no surprise to anyone when he danced past Gvardiol for the umpteenth time with 85 minutes on the clock. His cross was initially cut out, but John McGinn was on hand to slot home the loose ball from close range.
The Aston Villa midfielder was a surprise omission from the starting line-up, but he - as he so often does - popped up when it counted to net his 19th international goal.
Kenny McLean had earned his place after a strong showing against Portugal last time out, but there’s no doubt Scotland are a much better team with McGinn in the side.
His midfield colleagues, in general, didn’t have the best of nights. Gilmour in particular struggled to assert his authority.
To his credit, he grew into the contest. But we’ve come to expect much better.
We had no idea whatsoever, meanwhile, what to expect from the man selected to lead the line.
Josip Gvardiol tried to get to grips with Doak but simply couldn't stop him playing a key role
Tommy Conway was part of Scotland’s miserable Euro 2024 campaign, but didn’t get a sniff of the action as the national side limped out at the first hurdle.
Five goals for Middlesbrough this season following his summer switch from Bristol City saw him handed a first international start. But it proved to be a steep learning curve.
Much of that wasn’t his fault, mind you. When the ball doesn’t come your way, there’s not much you can do. He was involved in a couple of bright passages of play in the first half, and was a willing runner throughout, but a glimpse of goal never came.
Grounds for optimism though, certainly, and now he’s got a taste of it, he’ll be desperate for more.
It would be foolish to suggest the red card brandished to Petar Sucic just seconds before the interval didn’t play a part in the result, or improvement in Scotland’s performance.
But it shouldn’t take away what was an all-too-rare evening of celebration in these parts, as the hosts held on to secure their first victory in 10 competitive fixtures.
In a campaign of hard-luck stories and missed opportunities - including during the reverse clash in Zagreb - Scotland finally got a rub of the green in this Nations League group.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.
