Scotland Under-21s' win turns nasty as two coaches sent off in mad finale

Scotland Under-21s ended their UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over their Bulgarian counterparts in a feisty encounter in Pazardzhik.

Striker Barney Stewart fired in a terrific opener after 32 minutes for this third goal in two games but in an ugly finale, Bulgaria defender Simeon Shishkov was shown a straight red for a foul on Dylan Lobban, before referee Granit Maqedonci also flashed a red card at Scots’ boss Tony Docherty and assistant Steven Naismith for aggressively entering the field of play amid the ensuing melee.

Scotland substitute Bobby Wales added a second goal in the final moments and a fine win for the visitors meant they retained their third place in Group B, which will help with seeding for the next qualification campaign.

Scotland Under-21 striker Barney Stewart was on the scoresheet again. | SNS Group

Docherty, taking charge for only the second time, was without Rangers winger Findlay Curtis, who was recalled to the senior squad for the Nations League game against Slovenia at Barclays Hampden on Tuesday night after contributing four assists in the Under-21s’ 5-2 win over Azerbaijan at Rugby Park last week.

However, Stewart, who had scored twice, stepped up to the plate again.

His goal came after Andy Tod had won possession back in midfield, the former Falkirk striker then taking the ball and striding on before drilling a low drive from 25 yards past goalkeeper Plamen Andreev, whose dive was in despair.

However, moments later, it took a fine save from Rory Mahady to keep that lead intact, the Scotland keeper beating a goalbound shot from defender Martin Georgiev away for a corner which was defended.

Lobban had two attempts thwarted by Andreev just minutes later, and in the 78th minute he cleared a shot from substitute Aleksandar Marinov off the line, before Bulgarian striker Filip Gigov missed from close range with the loose ball.

It turned nasty in the 82nd minute when Shishkov was sent packing for a high challenge on Lobban, with Docherty and Naismith also disciplined, and when all the fuss had died down, Stewart set up Wales for an easy tap-in to register two wins out of two for Docherty.

Elsewhere in the group, first-placed Portugal were comfortable 2-0 winners over second-placed Czech Republic.