Anthony Ralston hailed former Celtic team-mate Ben Doak’s “excellent” Scotland impact after the teenager played a key role in the nation’s late win over Croatia.
With 86 minutes on the clock, the 10-man visitors were set to leave Hampden with a hard-fought point.
But 19-year-old winger Doak’s driving run and strike allowed John McGinn to finish a dramatic winner.
“He has done excellent on the wing,” Ralston said of Doak, who is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough from Liverpool.
“I think when you play against 10 men, you just need to get your attackers on the ball as much as possible, move the ball quick and don’t dwell on it.
“We had a few [chances before the goal], but you just keep doing it, keep getting the ball wide and get [Doak] one-on-one. Then, thankfully, we got the goal.”
Despite ending their long winless run with a much-needed victory, Ralston feels Scotland could have performed better on the night.
But after enduring what the right-back describes as an “unlucky” Nations League campaign, the Celtic man says the side “deserved a bit of luck” in Friday’s win.
“We’ve played better in other games, especially first half,” he added. “But when they went down to 10 men it was a different challenge.
“I’d much rather not play better and get the three points than play well and not get the three points.”