SEALED WITH A KRIS

BIG-HEARTED Kris Boyd handed Kenny Miller his first goal of the season on a plate as Scotland got off to a Euro 2008 flier yesterday.

All four of Walter Smith's strikers found the net in a 6-0 rout of the Faroe Islands in the opening qualifier at Parkhead.

But it was Rangers hitman Boyd who showed the TRUE team spirit of our national side when he stepped back from taking a second penalty to let Celtic star Miller break a 14-game drought.

Two goals in the first 10 minutes from Darren Fletcher and James McFadden had the 50,000 crowd on their feet.

But two spot-kicks in six minutes turned the screw - and kicked off a Rangers-Celtic bonding session that could cement a lasting striking partnership.

Boyd cracked home the first but after Fletcher won the second, the Ibrox ace stepped back and let the Manchester United midfielder hand Miller the ball.

It was a nightmare penalty - only just squeaking under Faroes No.1 Jakup Mikkelsen - but it was under-fire Miller's first strike inside Parkhead.

And after the game Boyd insisted: "It was important for Kenny to get off the mark and get his first goal in the stadium.

"Whatever he does with Celtic, he does. But we're on international duty and playing together."

Boyd also played down suggestions he had nicked the first penalty from McFadden.

He shrugged: "It was one of these things. I wanted off the mark, Faddy already had his goal so there was no harm in it.

"It hadn't been decided who'd take penalties before the game. We were just told whoever wanted to hit them should do it."

Boyd grabbed his second double in three caps before half-time and despite the Group B minnows shutting up shop Garry O'Connor bagged another at the death.

It was the first time Scotland had netted six since beating Yugoslavia 6-1, 22 years ago and their biggest win since an 8-0 victory over Cyprus in 1969.

And Boyd insists it tees them up perfectly for Wednesday's second group game in Lithuania.

He said: "The most important thing was the win so we could take some confidence into Wednesday.

"Do I consider myself first pick now? Whatever the manager decides I'll stick to."

Taken from the Sunday Mail