Former skipper sends rallying call to country

Former Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher has urged the nation to unite behind Steve Clarke and his side as they bid to create history next month.

Fle tcher wants the Tartan Army to shake off negativity after the team’s poor per formance in trying to see off Israel at Hampden.

V ic tory v ia the country ’s first-ever penalty shoot-out after a turgid 90 minutes means the Scots are just one win away from reaching the finals of a top-level tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup.

Fletcher is adamant ever yone should now rally behind the team for the November 12 clash.

He said: “It ’s an opportunity to qualify for a major tournament. We haven’t done it for 22 years, so this is a massive result.

“Yes, it wasn’t the best performance, but it doesn’t matter because the lads have got the job done and they’ve earned the right to go away to Serbia in a one-off game to qualify for a major tournament.

“So, we’ve got to believe they can do it, get behind the team – no negativity. We’r e very quick in Scotland to get negative about things. Sometimes we’ve been the team and lost.

“We weren’t great but we got the job done and we’re through, and I’m delighted for the lads and for Steve Clarke.

“If we can go away and get that win in Serbia it would be the biggest result in Scottish football history.

“We’ve got one game, one big massive chance, and that’s why I’m urging all the country to stay positive and get behind Steve Clarke and the players.”

Scot land had to overcome the loss of Stuart Armstrong to a positive Covid-19 test, and Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney to test and protect protocols, as well as injuries to James Forrest, Oliver Burke, Liam Palmer and Scott McKenna.

Fletcher said: “You could see with the reaction of the players after the game how much it meant to them.

“Three big p l ay e r s dropped out at the last minute because of Covid and you’re looking at at least two of them starting the game. Preparation got thrown out.

“I thought it was a professional job well done. They were never in any danger, and the team that looked most likely to score was Scotland.” better