Scotland went top of their Nations League group after a double from substitute Lyndon Dykes and another goal from captain John McGinn secured an emphatic 3-0 win over Ukraine at Hampden Park on Wednesday.

Dykes came off the bench and scored with two towering headers in the space of seven minutes after McGinn had given Scotland, frustrated by Ukraine for large periods of the game, the lead in the 70th.

The win means Scotland have nine points from four games in League B Group 1, with Ukraine two points behind in second. The hosts, who were knocked out of the World Cup playoffs by Ukraine in June, settled into the game after a scrappy opening and dominated proceedings as Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong both went close to giving them a deserved lead. Scotland were guilty of squandering chances after the break but McGinn and Dykes sealed the points with three well-taken goals. “We needed that,” McGinn said.

“The summer hurt us badly. Tonight (Wednesday) we got back to doing what we do well, being horrible to play against and showing desire.” Before kick-off, the teams lined the centre circle for a minute’s applause for Queen Elizabeth II. Some booing was clearly heard from the stands during the tribute.