Armenia clash now a must-win, says Clarke
Scotland manager happy to ‘win ugly’ in Nations League
STEVE CLARKE has admitted that Scotland need to respond to their mauling by the Republic of Ireland with a Nations League victory over Armenia – even if it means winning ugly.
Clarke’s side were thrashed 3-0 by Stephen Kenny’s team in their second Group B1 match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
The national team, who were booed off the park by their own supporters following the heavy loss, face a difficult away game in Yerevan tomorrow evening.
If they suffer a second consecutive loss it will seriously damage their chances of topping their section and securing a Euro 2024 play-off place.
Clarke, who will come under increased pressure from the Tartan Army if Scotland are beaten again, has confessed his players must put the humiliation behind them even if they have to grind out a triumph.
“We have to win in Armenia,” he said. “It’s that simple now and it might be an ugly one or might be a pretty one, but we need to win.
“Must-wins are not really in my vocabulary but we have to bounce back from what’s been another disappointment. But I back these players 100 per cent because they’ve been fantastic for the country.”
Asked if he thought the Qatar 2022 play-off semi-final defeat to Ukraine this month had knocked his players’ confidence after an eight-game unbeaten run, Clarke said: “I don’t think so, I really don’t.
“I felt the game last Wednesday [2-0 win at Hampden] was a good game for them because they were able to dominate possession.
“Ireland got about us and we couldn’t handle it for some reason. So that’s what I need to go away and look at. Ireland were good and I said that to Stephen Kenny after the game.
“For me, the biggest thing is that we had disappointment and then did okay and then it’s disappointment again. I have to analyse that and find out why that happened.
“It’s two big blows, but sometimes life isn’t always nice all the time and straightforward. We’ll come back.”
Clarke has dismissed suggestions that he made mistakes with his team selection at the weekend and stressed that he will not pay attention to any criticism that is aimed in his direction.
“People can pull it apart if they want,” he said. “If they think that’s what was wrong with the game then I would suggest that maybe they’re not right. I won’t hear it and I won’t read it.”
Meanwhile, Clarke has denied that he snubbed the travelling Scotland supporters by remaining in his technical area after the final whistle on Saturday.
“I don’t usually go to the fans, no,” he said. “At Hampden I never go out and do any walk of honour or anything like that. I have only done it occasionally in away games. But I wanted to be at the side of the pitch to be with my players coming off.
“I’ve been low before and I never categorise highs and lows. It was a real disappointing day for us, but I’ve had plenty of those in my career.”