When the Scotland under-21s failed to score against Denmark in Billy Stark’s first competitive match in charge, a drab goalless draw at Dunfermline’s East End Park, they looked unlikely qualifiers for next June’s European championships. They had already lost their opening fixture to Finland under Maurice Malpas, and few imagined Stark could be able to turn it around in such dizzying fashion.

In the five qualifiers since that 0-0 result in Fife, Scotland have won every time, scoring 15 and conceded just twice. Finland’s 2-1 defeat of Denmark last Friday means victory in Aalborg against the Danes on Tuesday would guarantee Scotland a place in one of the seven playoff fixtures for teams attempting to join Championship hosts Sweden. ‘We’ll be gutted now if we don’t qualify for the playoffs,’ said Stark

The Scots have netted seven goals without reply in their past two away fixtures in Slovenia and Lithuania, with what Stark describes as some ‘devastating counter-attacks’. There is a hardened look to his team. Garry Kenneth, the Dundee United defender, claimed after Thursday's 3-1 home win over Slovenia the players ‘fear no-one’, which is what his manager wants to hear. ‘You can see how the players have matured,’ added Stark.