McGinn blasts Scotland’s lack of belief

Goal hero unhappy as streetwise Russia boss Hampden Euro clash

Scotland scorer John McGinn accused his own team of “lacking belief” as they crashed to a 2-1 Hampden loss to Russia last night.

McGinn fired the Scots ahead just as the match ticked into 11 minutes and that was reward for a decent start from Steve Clarke’s men.

However, it all went horribly wrong after that as the Russians outplayed their hosts, scoring twice to wreck any realistic chance Scotland had of qualifying out of Group I.

The Aston Villa player claimed: “We lacked a bit of belief and that’s not acceptable.

“We have got to believe that when we go a goal up in a game, we can go and make it two or three nil. If we don’t do that then we’ll never make (it) to any tournaments. It was a surprise because of the way we were playing.

“We were putting Russia under pressure and they were making mistakes but we ended up going from playing to our strengths to playing in a way that suited them.”

McGinn felt the opposition were smarter as well as slicker in possession.

He said: “They were more streetwise than us and they won more second balls.

“It was disappointing for that to happen. We know we are capable and that is the most frustrating thing about tonight.

“The boys are gutted. We know we have messed up and what we have to improve on. We have to learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“That really isn’t us. We are a good team and we looked it for the first 15 minutes. But it means nothing if, after that you drop off, let Russia come onto you and get punished for it.

“They were a lot better than us and deserved to win the game.”

After being bossed by Russia, it doesn’t get any easier for the Scots as they welcome star-studded Belgium to Hampden on Monday.

McGinn added: “We have to try to use what we played like in the first 20 minutes and take it into Monday.

“We respect Belgium but we have to believe in ourselves more.

“I’m sure everyone would agree we have a very talented squad but it’s now up to us to go out and show that.

“It’s a big task we face now and Monday is a difficult game.

“It has extra importance now because we’ve got to win. Tonight was a mustwin game and we didn’t provide it so we have a chance on Monday to resolve that.

“We can only focus on the next game. “It doesn’t come more difficult that Belgium but it’s our own fault we are in this position.”

Midfielder Kenny McLean admitted the feeling in the Scots’ camp was “flat” after their loss to the Russians.

The Norwich man, who came on as a second-half sub, didn’t hide his disappointment.

He said: “Everyone feels pretty flat to be honest. We didn’t really create too much in a game where we knew we had to be on the front foot and create. “It’s disappointing obviously. “We now need a reaction from it. Everybody is hurting right now and it’s a tough one to take.

“We got ourselves in a good position but let the lead slip and after that we never really got going.

“We sat back after the first goal went in. I don’t know why. Obviously Russia are a tough team and we knew they were going to have a go.

“After we went one up they came at us a bit. We should have been good enough to handle it and we should have had more going the other way.”

McLean conceded that it is now looking bleak in the group for the Scots.

He added: “We know we’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb.

“It is a big task we’ve got ahead but it’s up to the players to take this on the chin.”

Stephen O’Donnell took full responsibility for his role in Russia’s victory.

The Kilmarnock full-back had a bad night at Hampden – he wasn’t the only one – and was credited with an own goal for what turned out to be the winner.

He said: “That was on me. I thought we had safe possession but I have worked with the manager (ex-Killie gaffer Steve Clarke) long enough and I know I need to be inside my man.

“He doesn’t need me to be pushing that high up the pitch and I don’t know why I went that high. That was early doors and we didn’t need to be chasing it that early.

“I was caught high and then their quality in the final third can hurt us and it certainly did. There were times when I was poor on the ball and that is going to happen.

“There are going to be mistakes but that one is bread and butter and I was punished because I was too high.”

As for the goal being given to him, he replied: “That sums it up. I was back scrambling and it is disappointing but that is football. If I was there again I would try and clear the ball again.”