Bring on England says Hull full-back Robertson

Andy Robertson believes Scotland are now equipped to tackle group leaders England.

Gordon Strachan’s team kept alive their World Cup hopes with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia at Hampden, a result which left them two points off second place in Group F.

Leaders England have yet to concede a goal at the midway stage of the qualifiers, but Robertson feels Scotland can pose a threat at Hampden on June 10. “We are only two points off second. We’ve got a massive game coming up next, England at home, and if we show that tempo and desire then you never know what happens. If we pick up points in that game then we are right back in it.”

Scotland needed an 88th-minute winner from Chris Martin on Sunday night, but they hit the woodwork twice through Leigh Griffiths and had by far the better of the game’s chances.

Robertson said: “From what I remember, that’s the best we have played in a while. Especially first half, we were creating chances and the tempo we were pressing at, the midfielders were all over the place and the wingers were pressing, and the defence was tight.

“I think they only had one shot at goal the whole game and that’s what we have been asking for. I thought the defence looked solid and the whole team looked solid as a defensive unit.”

Leeds United striker Chris Wood missed New Zealand’s second World Cup qualifier with Fiji through injury.

The Elland Road club’s top scorer was sent home to England for medical checks ahead of the international fixture in Wellington with a knock sustained in New Zealand’s 2-0 win over Fiji on Saturday.

The 27-goal striker was hurt by a heavy challenge towards the end of that victory and leaves United facing an anxious wait to learn if Wood will be fit for Saturday’s trip to Championship promotion rivals Reading.

United defender Pontus Jansson started Sweden’s 4-0 victory against Belarus; winger Stuart Dallas played in Northern Ireland’s win over Norway; midfielder Eunan O’Kane missed the Republic of Ireland’s 0-0 draw with Wales, but featured in last night’s friendly loss to Iceland in Dublin, and on-loan Swansea winger Mo Barrow scored in Gambia’s 2-1 win over the Central African Republic.