U21s maintain high hopes

HEARTS goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald is confident Scotland can reach the Uefa Under-21 Championship play-offs.
Billy Stark's side maintained their bid to qualify for next summer's finals thanks to yesterday's emphatic 3-0 victory in Lithuania. The result moved Scotland up to second in Group 6, level on points with Denmark and just two behind leaders Finland. But MacDonald said: "I think we have a good chance of winning the final two games." First up is the 4 September home clash with Slovenia at Falkirk, which Scotland must win to retain any hope of stealing top spot from Finland.The Under-21 side are unlikely to be disciplined over their late arrival in Lithuania with neither Uefa nor the host association minded to seek any sanctions over the incident.