Maguire positive young Scots can stay top of the pile

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 09:52

SCOTLAND Under-21 striker Chris Maguire insists there is no reason for the Group 10 leaders to fear anyone in their 2011 European Championship qualifying campaign.

Billy Stark's side have won their first two matches of the pool after overcoming Albania for the second time in four days with a convincing 5-2 victory at the Falkirk Stadium last night. The young Scots now must wait until September 5 for their next competitive clash against group favourites Austria away.

The Under-21s also have to play Belarus and Azerbaijan as they look to reach the finals in Denmark and Aberdeen marksman Maguire, who scored in both games against Albania, is hoping their fine start will strike fear into their rivals. He said: "

You look at the top of the league and we are sitting there with six points and other teams have still to play. For them, it's catch up on us.

"It's vital to get the first two games out of the way with two victories and I think we are going to go through the campaign and prove to everyone we are not pushovers. I don't see why we should fear anyone, back in our home country we can take anybody. I think it was a good performance against Albania, I don't think they fancied it."

Dundee United's David Goodwillie opened the scoring ten minutes before the break before Maguire and Andrew Shinnie put the Scots on easy street. Albania responded before substitutes Jamie Murphy and Stephen McGinn sealed the win either side of another goal for the visitors.