Brown happy with friendly wins

Scotland captain Scott Brown admits their double friendly triumph was a much-needed confidence boost after their Euro 2016 disappointment.

Scotland followed up away victory over the Czech Republic with a second 1-0 win in five days after Matt Ritchie capitalised on hesitant defending by Denmark defender Daniel Agger to score an early goal at Hampden.

Just as Allan McGregor shone in Prague, Scotland needed a top goalkeeping performance from Craig Gordon, who made a world-class stop from Martin Braithwaite.

Manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side were not at their best but recording two victories in five days with completely different starting line-ups has seen Scotland regain some of the confidence that ebbed away after they were edged into fourth place in their European Championship qualifying group.

"I think we needed it,'' said Brown, who won his 50th cap.

"It's two huge results. Maybe not the prettiest games in the world but victories matter and hopefully we can do that in the World Cup qualifiers.

"Gordon has got us back to winning ways. He understands that sometimes you don't play well but we got a result and that's what matters.

"It's about hard work, and that's what we have got in this squad. You see people like Matt Ritchie closing down a centre-half and, lucky enough, he got in and scored a great goal again.''

Ritchie knew there was much to work on after Denmark dominated second-half possession, but he agreed with Brown's assessment that the friendly result mattered.

The Bournemouth midfielder said: "Confidence is high. Two wins, and we need to carry that momentum into the campaign.

"They are a top team and to win is fantastic. We need to keep doing it.

"The first 15 minutes we pressed really well but we maybe took our foot off the gas and they got a foothold in the game. Especially the second half, we didn't keep the ball as well as we could have done.''

The 26-year-old has now scored three goals in his first eight internationals and his overall display further cemented his case for a regular starting place in a squad full of talented attacking midfielders.

"I'm really enjoying it,'' Ritchie said. "The lads I am playing with make it easy, you have top players in and around you. It's a fantastic squad to be involved in.''

The former Swindon player looks set for another season in the Barclays Premier League following Bournemouth's impressive debut campaign, a fact that will be a major boost to Strachan, who admitted after Tuesday's game that he needs players competing at the top level.

"You learn week in, week out,'' Ritchie said.

"You make mistakes and learn from them and it makes you a better player and a stronger person.

"I'm enjoying my football at Bournemouth. It's a fantastic club and I'm loving every minute.''

There was further cause for optimism for Scotland given the seamless transitions to international football made by Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney and Hibernian midfielder John McGinn.

Speaking of his 18-year-old Parkhead team-mate, Brown said: "He's excellent, his attitude is unbelievable. He just seems to join in with top quality players, he doesn't look out of place.

"Nobody gets the better of him, and I mean nobody, and he proves that week in, week out.

"It's great to see people come through from your club. And it was great playing with John McGinn, the two of us seemed to bounce off each other.

"The gaffer told them to play how they do for their teams and they definitely did that. They were confident and they have so much energy about them.''