Gibraltar grind proves that Scotland need to sharpen up with far sterner tests around the corner at Euro 2024

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AT the end of a 90-minute grind which felt instantly forgettable, Scotland had finally remembered what it felt like to score a goal.

Not as many goals as anyone had expected against such limited opposition, but Steve Clarke’s men were back on the scoresheet nonetheless.

After firing blanks in the defeats to the Netherlands and Northern Ireland back in March, these were Scotland’s first goals since the 3-3 draw with Norway last November.

Their run of seven games without a win has also been ended, albeit not anywhere near as convincingly as it should have been.

Other than that, there aren’t really many other straws worth clutching at. This was a grim affair where Clarke won’t have learned a great deal about his team.

It made you question the value of playing a team like Gibraltar just over a week out from the start of the Euros.

Che Adams unleashes his stunning effort, a strike which has surely earned him the striker role

There was very little else for Steve Clarke to cheer on an evening of abject frustration in Faro

Billy Gilmour is tackled by Gibraltar's Tjay de Barr as the hosts gave their visitors a tough time

It was a training exercise in a soulless, empty stadium. That’s pretty much the polar opposite of what awaits Scotland in Munich on the opening night against the Germans.

What was supposed to be a stroll in the sun was instead a tough watch throughout.

Helping themselves to a few goals was meant to have a restorative effect on Scotland’s confidence. Instead, it became a slog. Prior to Ryan Christie finally breaking the deadlock on 58 minutes, Scotland were toiling.

They were wasteful in those games against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland, something which Clarke himself referenced afterwards.

But not half as wasteful as they were in the first half in Faro. Last night, against a Gibraltar team who couldn’t get out their own half, Scotland had 18 shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Yet, only two of them were on target. The quality of their finishing was dreadful. They can’t always rely on the likes of Scott McTominay or John McGinn. Other players need to start chipping in consistently with goals.

Ryan Porteous tries to create something in the penalty box in the first half, to no avail

Adams' goal was a moment of quality fit to win any game. Same again on June 14 please, Che

The Southampton forward is hailed by James Forrest for his mood-brightening intervention

Poor finishing proved to be Scotland’s downfall in the last Euros — and it still looks to be a concern.

Against a team like Germany, they might only get one or two decent chances. Quite simply, they need to sharpen up if they are to make an impact at the Euros.

Positives were few and far between last night, but the sight of Che Adams coming off the bench to lash one into the top corner was most welcome.

Lawrence Shankland didn’t have a bad game, but nor did he do anything overly special. With that one swipe of his right boot, it might be Adams who cemented his place in the starting XI to face Germany.