PON osecornd battered Scots to stop leaking goals

DEFENDER Ryan Porteous admits Scotland have to tighten up after the 4-0 defeat by Netherlands made it 18 goals conceded in six winless games.

Steve Clarke’s side started well in Friday’s friendly in Amsterdam until the Dutch took the lead against the run of play with a powerful Tijjani Reijnders drive five minutes before half-time.

Georginio Wijnaldum headed in a second before substitutes Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen added late goals.

Scotland have gone six games without a win for the first time since a run from October 2007 to September 2008.

Ahead of the friendly against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on Tuesday, Watford centre-back Porteous (right) conceded his side needs to improve.

He said: “It was disappointing. We were more than in it for long spells.

“We had a number of good chances to get ourselves on level terms or maybe even go in front but ultimately the goals we have conceded have stopped us getting anything from the game.

“It is going to be hard to focus on the positives because of the manner of the result. But even if we’re getting beaten in games, we can’t concede the goals that we have done.

“Up until the 65th minute we were more than in the game.

“But the sloppy goals and things that we can do better have cost us.

“It’s tough when you’re playing against these teams but we’ve shown that we can do it.

“We are going through a spell right now with six games. We’ve conceded a number of goals and it’s definitely something we want to rectify and – luckily for us – we’ve got another game on Tuesday to try to do that.”

Midfielder Lewis Ferguson admits that those frantic final 15 minutes in Amsterdam provoked anger among the Scotland squad.

The Bologna star said the focus was now on making amends in Tuesday’s match.

“After any defeat you want to put things right and after this one the fire will be in our bellies for sure,” Ferguson said.

“We’re at home, there should be a big crowd and it’s up to us now. We’re not daft. We all know we need to improve.

“We can take all the positives away from it but you can’t lose 4-0 and be happy.”