Scotland Under-21s beat Azerbaijan 5-2 as Docherty begins new era

Scotland Under-21s beat Azerbaijan 5-2 at Rugby Park on Wednesday as Tony Docherty began his tenure with a European Championship qualifying victory. Barney Stewart scored twice, while James Wilson, Tyler Fletcher and substitute Bobby Wales also found the net, according to BBC Sport's match report from Kilmarnock.

The result came after Scotland's hopes of reaching next summer's finals had already ended. Before kick-off, the Czech Republic beat Bulgaria to secure second place in Group B. Scotland then had to recover from another setback when Nariman Akhundzade put Azerbaijan ahead, but Stewart's two goals and Wilson's header turned the match around before half-time.

Fletcher extended the lead after the interval, before Raul Mammadov pulled a goal back for the visitors. Wales then completed the scoring after being set up by Findlay Curtis. The Rangers winger was central to Scotland's attacking performance, supplying the deliveries for Stewart's opening goal and Wilson's header as well as creating the late opportunity for Wales.

BBC Sport's reporting on the wider coaching changes placed the performance within a restructuring of Scotland's youth teams. Docherty and assistant Steven Naismith have replaced Scot Gemmill, who had led the under-21s for a decade. New Scottish FA chief football officer Craig Mulholland has overseen changes intended to improve the route from youth internationals to the senior men's squad.

Docherty used the 3-4-2-1 formation favoured by senior head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. He had visited the senior training camp in La Manga, while Pocognoli has presented his playing model to the age-group coaches. Stewart told BBC Scotland that the under-21 players study the senior side's matches, including their pressing and attacking patterns, as part of that effort to align the teams.

The appointments extend beyond the under-21s. Tam Courts and Lee Wallace are working with the under-19s, David McCallum and Jonny Hayes with the under-17s, and Rhys McCabe leads the under-16s alongside James Grady and Stephen Clarke. The coaches are expected to collaborate across age groups, with younger teams given scope to play differently while retaining shared principles.