Scotland fans with even average memories take nothing for granted on the road, their mind’s eye still capable of conjuring up disturbing images of losing qualifying matches to Georgia in Tbilisi in 2007 and Kazakhstan in Astana a dozen years later.
Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary does not get to join the hall of infamy, not after Scotland won a fairly joyless, but wholly professional, behind-closed-doors contest against Belarus.
‘Get in and get out with three points’ was the mission, and the mission was accomplished. Quality was optional on this occasion.
There was not much of it, but for now it does not matter. There was an encouraging performance from Ben Gannon-Doak, operating on the left wing with Andy Robertson as his minder.
There was a solid outing from Che Adams, who scored the first and was involved in the second. There was another clean sheet and the feeling of a job done adequately.
The drama on the night did not come in Hungary, it came in Greece, where Denmark hauled themselves off the floor after dropping two home points against Scotland.
In taking the previously thrusting Greeks to the cleaners – 3-0 going on two or three more – they shook up the group.
After being thoroughly outclassed by Denmark, a team that Scotland kept goalless a few days ago, Steve Clarke has a right to think that Greece are maybe not as good as they were made to look at Hampden in March.
