That's The Way To Do It

12 August 2011 09:05
Billy Stark could not praise debutante Scott Allan any higher Scotland U21 coach Billy Stark was thrilled with the confident debut of Scott Allan during Wednesday afternoon's 3-0 win over Norway. The Dundee United midfielder moved the ball around brilliantly in midfield as Scotland overcame the early loss of Steven Saunders to a ruptured Achilles and dominated the first half. Allan set up Tom Cairney for a well-worked opener in the 20th minute, laying the ball perfectly into the Hull midfielder's path for him to stroke home from 16 yards. The teenager has burst into the United first team this season and showed excellent touches and awareness at St Mirren Park as Scotland warmed up for their UEFA qualifying campaign in style. Stark said: "He was terrific. That's not really a great surprise but at the same time you always have to factor in that it's a big game for the lad, his Under-21 debut. And he has only played two first-team matches. He basically carried on what he has been doing for his club. We couldn't have guaranteed that, that shows you he's on a high mentally. I'm sure over the season he'll have his dips as all young boys do, but at the moment he is showing a really good confidence in his ability." Allan's club-mate Stuart Armstrong also impressed, coming off the bench to score Scotland's third goal when he broke forward from midfield and shot home from 22 yards. Aberdeen full-back Ryan Jack had curled home the second moments earlier and Stark will urge his side to continue showing such belief. He said: "That's something we want to encourage them all to do. If we can work on a framework for the team that gives us a solid platform, those abilities will hopefully create openings for us and hopefully we'll be as clinical as we were yesterday."

Source: FOOTYMAD