Czech Republic 1-2 Scotland: Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes earn Steve Clarke's men huge victory

The air of foreboding around Olomouc before kick-off should have come from a makeshift home team drawn up on the back of a fag packet. Yet, by time up, the furrowed brows in the Andruv Stadium belonged to Scotland. If this was a bunch of Czech no-hopers it might be wise to steer clear of the first team for a while.

For an eager to please team of new boys with just two capped players in the starting eleven this was a free hit. Decimated by a weekend covid-19 scare, a hastily assembled squad had nothing to lose. The same couldn't be said of a Scots side who spent most of the game slipping and sliding around on a banana skin, only daring to breathe out when a torrid second half was finally over.

The hallmarks of another international embarassment were there from the start. An unfancied opponent in a state of turmoil. A game where defeat was pretty much unthinkable. Some ragged, porous defending during a game best viewed for long spells through the cracks of the fingers.

The loss of a poor goal after eleven minutes justified the pre-match frown lines. Debutant Jakub Pesek opened the scoring with embarassing ease, threatening to engulf Steve Clarke in an air of mild crisis ahead of next month's Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel.

A first Scotland strike for Lyndon Dykes before the half hour helped massively. The Australian born son of Dumfries parents has been one of the few bright lights of an unconvincing Nations League double header against Israel and the Czechs - Ryan Christie's ability to convert high pressure penalty kicks from 12 yards another.

The Celtic midfielder slotted Scotland into the lead after 51 minutes from a soft spot kick won by captain Andrew Robertson. This was, in every sense, a hiding to nothing for Clarke's team. A win was the absolute minimum expected of the Scots and they just about got there

Yet, for long spells the pre-match fretting was justified. The Czechs side numerous chances to score a second, and Scotland had keeper David Marshall to thank for preventing a horrible outcome

If Clarke knows his best team then next month's Euro 2020 play-off against Israel would be the time to show it. The news of Norway, potential opponents in the play-off final, sticking five past Northern Ireland in Belfast was chilling. Right now Scotland look all over the place.

Sportsmail columnist Kris Commons compared the team selection of Friday's 1-1 draw with Israel to picking names from a tombola. The pick n' mix approach continued here with the omission of Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, John McGinn, James Forrest and Ryan Jack. In came Sheffield United's John Fleck alongside Kenny McLean in midfield while Scott McTominay played alongside Liam Cooper of Leeds and Scott McKenna in a back three.

Clarke is entitled to experiment as he sees fit but, decent player though he is, McTominay is no central defender. As against Israel Scotland played with square pegs in round holes, the Czechs justifying the pre-match worry lines by taking an early lead. Kenny McLean was slack in possession in midfield, Tomas Holes bursting forward to feed Stanislav Tecl - one of only two Czech starters with a cap to his name.

The number eleven picked out the run of Pesek as a static McTominay ball-watched. Marshall had no chance with a composed finish.

By now this felt more Scottish than Irn Bru, square sausage and Oor Wullie. Whatever people say the hosts were never likely to be a San Marino or Gibraltar - all their players came from Czech first division clubs. Yet the ease with which a team of international rookies cut through at times was alarming.

Defensively Liam Palmer doesn't always convince. Yet the Sheffield Wednesday player is a threat in attack and had a key role in the equaliser using acres of space on the right touchline to slide a delicious ball across the face of goal. Dykes slid in aggressively to ram the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards for his first international strike.

For Scotland the former Livingston man - now with Queens Park Rangers - has been a real find. His first goal surely won't be his last.

Scotland edged in front for the first time six minutes into the second half.. As against Israel on Friday, it stemmed from a generous interpretation of the rules by the referee and flattered them.

Andrew Robertson had finally begun to make some headway on the left flank, the captain bursting beyond the Czech backline once more six minutes into the second half.

Wrestling with Tomas Malinsky in a 50/50 tussle before tumbling to the ground suspiciously close to the 18-yard line the spot kick award was soft. Once again Christie stood over the ball from 12 yards. This time he went low, tucking the ball low into the corner of the net past Ales Mandous.

Sometimes teams take the lead and relax. Scotland did the opposite, spending the last half hour engaged in desperate defending. Make no mistake, Clarke's team finished this game hanging on for grim life. In the final stages it was panic stations.

Victory was down to Derby keeper Marshall in the end. In the frrst hald Adam Janos was given too much time to lash a long range strike at goal, the keeper diving to tip the ball round the left hand post.

In the second Pesek was given acres of space to slot past Marshall before being foiled by a terrific save, Tecl stumbling comically over a great chance to convert the rebound.

Marshall *was* beaten when McTominay was caught the wrong side for a free kick right conceded on the edge of the 18 yard box, Havlic curling inches wide. The woodwork was Scotland's best friend at times, a back post header from Rusek in the dying moments skimming the upright and running to safety.

To gripe over a Scotland win over a top 50 nation on foreign soil is an odd business, but reflects the perfirmance

An excruciating watch at times there was just one crumb of comfort by the end of it all. Ahead of the most important Scotland game in a generation Clarke's team are now five games unbeaten. Somehow.