Goalscorers McLean and Dykes hail ‘massive step’ in Euro qualifying

Kenny McLean scored Scotland’s winner in Norway and then proclaimed the result as “a massive step” towards next year’s European Championships.

Lyndon Dykes had drawn Scotland level after Erling Haaland’s second half penalty and McLean slotted home a late winner that sealed three points for Steve Clarke’s side.

After defeating Cyprus and top seeds Spain at Hampden, the victory in Oslo means Scotland have maximum points from their group games so far.

McLean was delighted to have helped his side register what could be a huge result in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

“It’s pretty special,” he said. “A really good moment for everybody involved and obviously the fans that travelled.

“It was amazing. It was a massive step for us in the group. There’s a lot of work to do and there’s a game in a few days so we’ll enjoy this just now but you know we need to go and recover.

“Nobody wants to hear it but that’s what we’re going to do.

“We know we’ve had to improve on the results away from home. I still think we can do better but to come to a venue like this against a really good team on a really big occasion and get a result shows real character.”

Dykes netted his ninth goal for Scotland to draw Scotland level, stabbing the ball in after John McGinn put a pass through to him. He reflected on a tough night and said the team showed the benefits of a positive mindset.

“We didn’t play the best tonight,” Dykes admitted. “It was a tough night. But, you know, we turned the momentum after my goal went in and we showed obviously with the subs coming on as well they impacted the game. It’s just the belief that we have.

“So I have to just keep rolling on and hopefully when the chances come they go in because the ball rolling in that goal was the slowest thing I’ve ever seen in my life and I was having a heart attack.

“I was just happy to see it go over the line.”