SCOT GEMMILL praised his Scotland Under-21s after they secured a fantastic comeback win in Croatia thanks to a double from sub Connor McLennan.

In a huge shot in the arm for Scottish football after a truly miserable week for the senior side, the young Scots made it two wins out of two in their Euro 2021 group as they followed up a routine win against San Marino with a fantastic victory in Sibenik, despite trailing early on.

The young Scots improved markedly in the second half and Gemmill's substitutions paid off in spectacular style when he introduced McLennan and Glenn Middleton with 11 minutes left and they combined within three minutes for the Aberdeen winger to level.

But even better was to follow when McLennan headed in a Ross McCrorie cross to give Scotland a massive win, which delighted the Scots boss.

He said: "To beat a Pot One team away from home is a really top achievement.

"It definitely ranks up there in terms of wins against some top countries. I'm so pleased for the players. They have shown they are willing enough and clever enough to do it. They've shown they have got the belief.

"To play a team like Croatia away and go a goal down and still have that resilience and belief and intelligence to keep executing the game plan. It was a really mature performance. Both Connor and Glenn came on and made the difference."

Scotland had even suffered a huge pre-match blow when Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour was ruled out with a muscle strain. Almost immediately, the Scots were pinned back and the hosts took a 10th-minute lead when an excellent cross from their captain, Dinamo Zagreb's Nikola Moro, for club team-mate Sandro Kulenovic gave Doohan absolutely no chance with a planted header into the net.

Scotland looked a lot better after the break and Gemmill threw on Middleton and McLennan and it paid off in sensational style just three minutes after they came on when the on loan Hibs star darted down the left wing and whipped in a cross for Aberdeen winger McLennan to take a touch and drill in a fantastic finish.

Scotland hadn't settled for just a point, though, and grabbed a shock late winner after Hornby had earlier been denied by a fine save from home keeper Adrian Semper, before Ross McCrorie arrowed in a brilliant cross with pace for the on-rushing McLennan to head in and clinch a brilliant and unexpected victory.