McGarry Last-gasp victory over Poland was proof

There was always more at stake for Scotland in Warsaw than survival at the top of the Nations League and the distant prospect of finishing second.

Some 148 days after presiding over an abysmal display as the side exited the Euros, Steve Clarke's reputation was also at stake.

However welcome they were, a point against Portugal and a win over Croatia would never be enough to turn the page on that darkest night against Hungary in Stuttgart.

So this was an opportunity for Clarke to redeem himself and show that he had learned from that catastrophic episode.

Even before Andy Robertson's thunderous header flew into the net, the screen was as far removed from that dreadful summer denouement as you could imagine.

From the first whistle, Clarke's men showed ambition and quality. They kept the ball for a reason. They passed it on with pace and purpose.

They created more chances than they could have imagined.

They deserved the breaks that came their way every now and then and deserved the lead that John McGinn gave them on their first wave through the park.

After giving everything, it would have been extremely cruel if Poland had claimed a draw through a spectacular strike from Kamil Piatkowski.

Even if it had ended that way, this show would have had many more positives than that regrettable night against the Hungarians.

The team is clearly in a different place now. Robertson's header in the third minute secured a famous win that was no more than they deserved.

Although the result in Split was not to our liking in terms of qualifying for the World Cup draw, there is a renewed spirit and optimism on this side.

After narrowly losing the first three games of this section, Scotland finished with two wins and a draw. The difference with a few months ago is big.

And after being rightly criticized for his ultra-cautious approach in the summer, Clarke deserves a lot of credit for that.

As difficult as the prospect of being seeded third for the World Cup draw is, it feels like a corner has been turned.

Clarke had been coy from the start about whether he would play Ben Doak, but you always had the feeling he would. We're starting to know what we're getting with this wonderfully talented 19-year-old.

You give him the ball, he turns some of the best defenders inside out, they can't see him anymore and then he moves on to his next victim.

If there are any rough edges to be smoothed out, his explosiveness off the goal is arresting.

He tormented Josko Gvardiol and Duje Caleta-Car last time. Now it was the turn of Nicola Zalewski and Jakub Kiwior. How they suffered here.

It would be a great disservice to the Ayrshireman to suggest that all he has to offer is speed. Make no mistake, he can play too.

After being picked out inside three minutes by Billy Gilmour's superb pass, he showed the calm and composure of a seasoned international to pick out McGinn.

The Aston Villa man placed his right-foot shot in the one spot the goalkeeper couldn't reach.

Watching Scotland defend this year was a painful experience. With sixteen goals conceded in seven games between June and October, there seemed little hope of turning around the form.

Back-to-back clean sheets against Portugal and Croatia gave the team the platform needed to hit the ground running in Group A1 of the Nations League.

Even with Robert Lewandowski's injury, a Poland team that suffered from their 5-1 defeat to Portugal had quality in Karol Swiderski and Adam Buksa.

On another night they could have scored plenty of goals in addition to the three they claimed at Hampden, but Clarke's men were having none of that.

It started when Robertson started his 80th cap with a brilliant recovery block against Sebastian Szymanski.

By the time it came, you lost count of the number of times Anthony Ralston, John Souttar and Grant Hanley had followed suit. One goal-line block from Souttar at the start of the second half defied all expectations.

Behind them, Craig Gordon blocked, punched and held everything that was shot in his path.

But this was no reenactment of the Alamo. Although Scotland suffered at times, their football was intelligent and enterprising.

They were patient when necessary, but went for the jugular when it was on.

Gilmour hit the crossbar. Scott McTominay hit the post. You feared that these would be small but important margins.

No one could do anything about Piatkowski's equalizer just before the hour mark. Two goalkeepers couldn't have saved it.

A while ago that blow would have shocked Clarke's players, but they are made of sterner stuff now, as evidenced by the astonishing final.

We'll have to wait until the play-off in March to see if Scotland can keep their heads above water, but everything here suggested the team is finally moving forward again.