WALLACE HAS IBROX FUTURE, SAYS TERRY

Belgium thrash Scotland 4-0 and McLeish insists he’ll take full blame for asking our boys to pass it around their superstars

ALEX McLeish last night accepted full responsibility for the 4-0 defeat Scotland suffered at the hand Belgium – for demanding his players to pass the ball against the Russia 2018 semi-finalists.

The national team slumped to their heaviest defeat at Hampden since a 5-0 loss to England in the Home Internationals way back in 1973 as a result of

needless errors in both halves.

However, McLeish absolved his charges from all blame for the loss and insisted their confidence would not be dented ahead of their opening Nations League match against Albania on Monday night.

“Mistakes cost us,” said McLeish.

“I thought we were doing okay in the first half, then we made a mistake and lost a goal. At this level, against a team of this stature, the consequences are devastating.

“What we have encouraged is for guys to pass the ball. The guys have to learn fast. They are young guys, they have just broken into the team in the last year or so and they were playing a team of world superstars.

“It looked the best choice for me. We have got to test ourselves. But for the first goal we are probably going in at half-time all square. The second half was a catalogue of errors.

“If anybody has to take the blame it is me for telling them to pass the ball. I know Charlie Mulgrew can pass the ball. Ryan Jack got caught on the ball. It is harsh lessons for the young boys.”

McLeish continued: “I praised them after the game. I thought they did a lot of good things. They passed the ball well at times. I don’t want them just to lump it up the pitch. We have to try and do something now. “You have got to tear your hair out with the goals. But I know I will definitely see a lot of good things in the video tomorrow. I have always looked at videos the next day and found something that will empower the guys.

“I need to look at legs for Albania. I know it’s a very difficult game coming before the Albania game. But they can cope with two games in a short space of time. There is no way they should be downhearted. We’re down, but we’re certainly not out.

“The guys are gutted to lose the goals and make the mistakes that they made. But they are trying to do what we want them to do. But there is a lot of ability. The next game is massive for us. But it is not about statistics for me. The best Scotland team in the world would find it hard against that team.”