Scotland: Russia thumping must be 'lowest of the low' - Steve Clarke

By Alasdair LamontBBC Scotland in Moscow

Last updated on .From the section Scotlandcomments768

'We allowed the game to run away from us'

Scotland must "make sure this is the lowest of the low" after a "dreadful" 4-0 Euro 2020 qualification thrashing by Russia, says manager Steve Clarke.

The hammering officially ends Scottish hopes of automatic qualification with three group games remaining.

In five games under Clarke, they have scored three goals and conceded 14 and sit below Cyprus and Kazakhstan in the group table.

"I have to put it down to fragile confidence," Clarke said.

"The players seem to lose heart very quickly, which is unfortunate because we had done OK up to that point."

Scotland can still qualify for a first major tournament since 1998 through the play-offs in March, having won their Nations League group last year to set up a second opportunity to reach the finals.

In Moscow, they stood firm amid a first-half Russian onslaught, but shipped four goals in 27 minutes after the break as they capitulated under the hosts' pressure.

Artem Dzyuba scored either side of Magomed Ozdoev's fierce strike and Aleksandr Golovin made it 4-0 late on.

"We conceded a soft first goal from a corner," Clarke said. "Man-on-man we have to do better. But from there we quickly found our way out of the game, allowed the game to run away from us.

"We can't keep conceding goals. You have to give a nod to the quality of opposition we've played recently, but for us, it's to try to make sure this is the very, very bottom of the lowest and we build from here and make sure that come March, we are able to be very, very competitive and get through the play-offs."

The former Kilmarnock manager has now overseen successive 4-0 defeats - the former by Belgium, the world's top-ranked side, who also won 3-0 in Brussels in his second game in charge.

"In all the games we've played, there have been moments where you can see what we're trying to do and where we're trying to get to," Clarke said. "But the results are dreadful, no getting away from that. I'm not going to hide behind that.

"On the back of back-to-back 4-0 defeats, it feels difficult. But I was brought up the hard way so I'm in for the fight and I think the players are in for the fight too."

'We're miles short at international level' - Sportscene analysis

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768 comments

  • Comment posted by Cardigan McBardigan, at 08:17 11 Oct 2019

    Clarke pre match: 'We're aiming for 12 points from 4 games'.

    That's cunning from the manager. By not specifying which games and by when this would happen, he's bought himself time.

    Four wins in ten years is possible if they really believe, as a country and as a team.

    I reckon they can do it.

  • Comment posted by peteandel, at 08:16 11 Oct 2019

    We have become accustomed to this, no surprises here, we simply have no footballing talent. It is hugely amusing when people scream and shout about Celtic getting x-in-a-row, of course they do, the competition is abysmal. Scottish football died a long time ago

  • Comment posted by Gill1e, at 08:23 11 Oct 2019

    You've got to ask how northern ireland with a squad of players worse than scotland can push teams like holland all the way whilst scotland are a shambles. Manager and players are a complete disgrace.

  • Comment posted by hammertime, at 08:16 11 Oct 2019

    Oh I've a feeling the descent is nowhere near ended

  • Comment posted by kmonaghan, at 09:40 11 Oct 2019

    Nicola Sturgeon to make a statement outside Bute House at 11am this morning. She'll claim last night's gubbing by Russia proves beyond all doubt that Scotland must have an indyref2 and if Scotland were independent they'd have pure won that game last night. And qualified pure dead easy. She'll conclude by saying g it's all England's fault. 2 hour special tonight on BBC Scotland to debate result.

  • Comment posted by 931035, at 08:07 11 Oct 2019

    Russia has teams which actually make it into the Champions League. They also have a few decent players in other countries' top-flight leagues. Did anybody seriously expect anything else from this match?

  • Comment posted by Baggie Slate, at 08:18 11 Oct 2019

    Well played Scotland. You always make us feel better.

  • Comment posted by Andy, at 08:44 11 Oct 2019

    Absolutely hilarious,
    love to see the Scots beaten at anything. It would make me happy if they got beaten at anything, including bee keeping, sandwich making or sandcastle building .
    I am sick of them supporting the other team when England play and harping on about how good they are.
    Well done Russia.

  • Comment posted by kaisersozay, at 08:14 11 Oct 2019

    Absolute omnishambles and I fear that this is far from the lowest of the low - apparently you can play well for a decent team then turn to jelly when you pull on a Scotland shirt. It’s not like there is massive pressure either as the nation has such low expectations. Last man out please turn off the lights.

  • Comment posted by TallYorkie, at 08:17 11 Oct 2019

    Problem is at grass roots level in Scotland. Scottish Premiership is poor with arguably just 2 teams in it every year with the majority of their players from abroad. Until Scotland brings on and encourages Scottish players to get to top level football whatever team they play for then unfortunately whichever manager is in charge is on to 'plums' ! Not enough decent players to choose a team from.

  • Comment posted by U17871794, at 08:24 11 Oct 2019

    If things are to improve then everyone involved in Scottish football needs to grow up and that includes the fans.

    Drop all the 'pashun' and William Wallace nonsense and get real.

    Talent, structure, style, organisation and commitment wins football matches.

    Passion is an excuse for losers.

  • Comment posted by colonelclink, at 08:45 11 Oct 2019

    I’m Scottish, I live in Scotland. I wouldn’t open the curtains to see Scotland play. They have been utter rubbish since the 80s. I blame the fat blazer brigade at the sfa. All they are interested in is the foreign trips to the top hotels, and the kudos of being on the team coach.

  • Comment posted by hurricainski, at 08:20 11 Oct 2019

    If Clarke thinks this is the lowest of the low hes in for a rude awakening Scotland at best have capeable journeymen no more than that take any half decent player stick him in a team of third rate internationals and he becomes one of them.
    Time for brutal honesty from the manager but the SFA may have gagged him he needs a rethink the boys club needs disbanded as not fit for purpose.

  • Comment posted by Al, at 08:38 11 Oct 2019

    The real problem with Scottish football is that it's run for the benefit of 2 clubs, one of which was only formed in 2012.

    Look at the farce with Celtic trying to buy a John McGinn to use as a squad player only for him to become Villa's player of the year in a better quality league.

    Until those two stop stalling the potential of young Scottish players nothing will change.

  • Comment posted by Matt77, at 08:37 11 Oct 2019

    It says something about Scottish football when the manager of the most dominant team in the country goes to Leicester City as an upwards step.

  • Comment posted by Magichat, at 08:18 11 Oct 2019

    They will go lower, they always do. A study in failure.

  • Comment posted by Lord Paignton, at 08:24 11 Oct 2019

    Nope I reckon Scotland can go a lot lower still😂😂🤣🤣🤣

  • Comment posted by William, at 08:45 11 Oct 2019

    The kilt & DM clad Tartan Army will be in tears again after the play offs. Their enjoyment of football is limited to seeing England lose.

  • Comment posted by ebensdad, at 08:32 11 Oct 2019

    I'm an England fan but I don't like seeing Scotland playing so badly. I hope they get it sorted. It would be great to see all UK teams qualifying for major tournaments

  • Comment posted by TheAgeOfMadness, at 08:55 11 Oct 2019

    SFA have to hold up their hands to continuing decline of the Scottish game. As a Scotsman I have always been embarrassed by the "any team but England" sentiment, so to see it rebound here is of no surprise. Just like the state of the game, we have only ourselves to blame.

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