Scotland U21s hit five against Azerbaijan to open Docherty era
Scotland Under-21s beat Azerbaijan 5-2 at Rugby Park on 29 September to give Tony Docherty a winning start as head coach. The goals flowed in Kilmarnock in a qualifier for the 2027 European Under-21 Championship. It finished 5-2. BBC Sport
West Brom striker Barney Stewart started and scored twice. Tyler Fletcher and James Wilson added one each to complete the five. Rangers man Findlay Curtis had a hand in all five goals, the creative thread through the night.
Curtis and Wilson had started the week with the senior squad before joining the Under-21s. It is a familiar route for young internationals. Train with the seniors, then get full match minutes with the age group below.
Docherty is the new head coach of the Under-21s, with former Scotland forward Steven Naismith as his assistant. They replaced Scot Gemmill after a decade in charge of the team. The change was led by Craig Mulholland, the Scottish FA's new chief football officer, who has reshaped the coaching set-up across the youth sides. BBC Sport
Mulholland watched from the stand in Kilmarnock alongside SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and Scotland assistant Alan Irvine. They saw Docherty set Scotland up in a 3-4-2-1. That means three central defenders, wing-backs providing width, two attacking midfielders behind one striker. It is the same shape favoured by Sebastien Pocognoli, head coach of the senior men's side.
Pocognoli has presented his game model, his blueprint for how Scotland should play, to the age-grade coaches. The idea is simple. The Under-21s should reflect the seniors in style and structure so players can step up with less adjustment. The reset runs wider too, with Tam Courts leading the Under-19s programme alongside Lee Wallace.
Under-21 football is the bridge to the full team. Players are 21 or under when a campaign starts, and qualifiers work as a group stage on the road to the finals tournament. Results matter, but development matters just as much. Coaches want winners who also learn senior habits.
Supporters could follow this camp closely. Both home qualifiers around the Azerbaijan tie in Kilmarnock were streamed live. Scottish FA
What makes this stand out is how much pointed to the future in one evening. Five goals. A new dugout. Three senior figures watching. For fans, this means a clearer path from youth football to the full Scotland side, played the same way and in the same shape.
