It was Scotland’s first success in such a game at the national stadium for 14 years and only the team’s second win in the last five outings. That, the manager feels, will have provided a major confidence boost for his players when they prepare to battle it out with World Cup favourites Spain, Lithuania, Liechtenstein and the Czechs.

“Players are going back to their clubs with a smile on their faces and that has not happened for a while, so, although this was a friendly, the result was really important,” he said.

“We also had to show we are up for the fight and what lies ahead, and the players definitely did that. At times, we had to do some what you would call desperate defending, but that happens at this level when you are against very good sides — and the Czech Republic come into that category.

“I felt, though, that, once we scored, you could see the boost it gave the players. At times, they were a bit over-elaborate, but the confidence was coming back and that’s a good thing.”

He was quick to stress this result would have little bearing on when the teams meet in competitive action in the Czech Republic in October.

“It was not an ideal situation for either team that we played a friendly when we are going to meet in the qualifiers, but the game was arranged before the draw was made and there was not time to change it.”