Full points are vital for scots babes
Back-to-back victories a must for U21s chances
LEWIS TOSHNEY has vowed that the Scotland Under-21s hopes of taking full points from their Uefa European Under-21 Championship qualifier with Luxembourg will not be undermined by complacency.
Billy Stark’s babes have already despatched their opponents 5-1 in the first meeting between the two, as they have moved into second place, six points adrift of Group 10 leaders Holland, with just two games left to play.
With the 10 group winners and four runners-up with the best record against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their sections, advancing to the play-offs, it is vital that the Scots take full points at St Mirren Park on Thursday and then on Monday night in their final fixture in Austria.
Toshney, currently on loan from Celtic at Dundee, said: “Complacency is not going to be a danger for us on Thursday. We are totally focused on what we need to do and although we are confident we are certainly not complacent.
“The other thing that we are determined to avoid is to start looking ahead to the Austrian g a m e n e x t M o n d ay. Luxembourg are going to come here determined to give a better account of themselves than they did at their place and we have to be ready for that.
“But you look at the type of quality we have with Jonny Russell, Leigh Griffiths and Tony Watt up front and we have the type of firepower that could trouble any side.”
Toshney is back to full fitness after tweaking a hamstring on his first loan outing for Dundee against Ross County and played an impressive role in the Dark Blues first SPL win of the season at Hearts on Sunday.
He is desperate to feature on the right flank of Billy Stark’s defence on Thursday night at St Mirren Park.
Toshney said: “Although I did play at centre-back for Celtic in Germany during pre-season and for their Reserves my preferred position is at right-back.
“When I was on loan at Kilmarnock last season Kenny Shiels had me bombing on from rightback and that is what I love to do.
Looking at the bigger picture of the Scots bid to make the qualifying round for next year’s finals, with Stark’s kids currently last in the points standings of all the teams currently in second place, Toshney admits that only back-toback victories will be good enough.
He said: “If we want to grab one of the places as among the best four runners-up then we need two wins to close the group campaign.
“Given that Luxembourg is the first of these two games and at home it definitely has extra importance.
“We want to deliver a really strong winning performance that will give us confidence and momentum for the trip to Austria on Monday.”