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The two diminutive Chelsea midfielders spent a tumultuous evening tussling, shoving and scrapping with each other, their club friendship scattered to the four winds.
It was a lightweight contest but a feisty one.
Both sides knew that to win an attritional, physical game they had to win the fight first – even the creative players.
Gilmour’s overdue elevation was intended to give the Scots more subtlety than in their opening game against the Czech Republic but the plan could only work if he got on the ball.
Mount made it his mission to ensure that did not happen in a claustrophobic first half.
Every time the 20-year-old tried to find a pocket of space to receive the ball he found Mount prowling close by.
He was chased and harried, badgered and bothered; the only time he found clear air was to take a corner.
Mount was a study in perpetual motion yet still found the energy to England’s main positive influence on the ball – virtually their only one for long periods until Jack Grealish came on to join him.
It was his vision which unlocked the Scotland defence twice before the break with two fine passes to Raheem Sterling which the Manchester City striker should have done more with.
It was also Mount’s corner from the right which picked out John Stones only for the defender’s header to cannon against the post.
There will be few off-pitch sights at these Euros more diverting than the Tartan Army on tour.
The exodus to London from north of the border released kilted chaos on the capital with thousands travelling without tickets just to be part of the land grab.
Having travelled in hope, they yearned to be able to say they were there when Scotland beat England for the first time in the 21st century.
For a decent proportion, they might not have remembered the game too clearly whatever the outcome.
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