The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Slovakia defeat ‘not a step backwards’ insists Scotland boss
Scotland manager Steve Clarke declared the loss in Slovakia a “defeat but not a step backwards” after his side failed to capitalise on a series of chances.
A deflected long-range strike from Jan Gregus consigned Scotland to a 1-0 defeat but there was “more than enough” to encourage Clarke.
He said: “When you have such a long unbeaten run i t ’s always disappointing when it finishes, but it finished in the right way. The team performance was good.
“It was a defeat but it’s not a step backwards. There was a lot to build on.
“I thought we started a little bit too deep, seemed too hesitant, but that was understandable. It was a long night for us – for both teams – on Thursday, and a successful night for both teams.
“It took us a little bit of time to find our way in the game but once we did I thought we were really good, created a number of good chances.
“I am not going to gripe about a lack of luck. We have had a little bit on our side recently.
“Their goal was a big deflection and aside from that I thought we defended well.”
Scotland missed the chance to go 10 games unbeaten for the first time since 1927 but they remain top of their Nations League group ahead of their final game in Israel on Wednesday and Clarke has a positive message for his players.
“I told them an unbeaten run is going to end some time,” he said. “There is a way to lose the game. We played well, we deserved more.
“But ever ything we want to do in this section is still ahead of us. We have to start the next unbeaten run in Israel on Wednesday.”
Defender Scott McKe n n a vowed the defeat would not dent confidence and return the side to the lows that preceded their run.
Scotland were again comfortable in possession and confident going forward to continue a trait which developed last month after Clarke initially made his team so hard to beat.
“Obviously I wasn’t in the camp last month but sitting at home watching it you could see that,” McKenna said.
“I think that just comes from winning games and not losing, the confidence just builds.
“You can see that with the way the boys express themselves when they go on the pitch.
“And long may that continue. Losing this game can’t set us back to the way we were a while ago. We just need to take confidence from the performance and keep building.”
The Nottingham Forest defender said: “There were a lot of changes just because the 120 minutes and penalties and all the emotion that came with it, but the lads that came in did their job well and on another day we could have taken at least a point.”