Morrison says Scots will use Kane goal as extra motivation
Midfielder bullish ahead of crucial Slovakia clash No fears despite loss of Brown and Armstrong
The memory of frustrating endgames against Poland and England will motivate Scotland in tomorrow’s all-or-nothing World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia, according to James Morrison.
With Hampden expected to house a capacity crowd, many of those present will also have witnessed Robert Lewandowski dumping Scotland from Euro 2016 with literally the last kick of the ball at Hampden Park two years ago.
More recently, another injurytime equaliser, this time by Harry Kane, saw England thwart the Scots in the World Cup qualifier at the same stadium in June.
“We’ve just got to learn from those experiences and see games out, which is what good teams do,” Morrison said. “Everyone wants it badly. We don’t want to think about not performing, because then it might happen. We will just concentrate on our own performances. At least we’re in it. It’s in our hands, we know what we have to do.
“It’s a good challenge and one we’ve worked hard at this week. Another positive is it’s at home and we have a good record there, so we will go into it confidently. Wins breed confidence and performances. In the last campaign, we started well and faded, so hopefully it’s reversed this time.
“There has been a bit of pressure on us for the last three or four games, and when we’ve had to get results we’ve done that. I’d take a bad performance and a win.”
The Scots suffered a double blow in the run-up to this double-header – Gordon Strachan’s squad also meet Slovenia in Ljubljana on Sunday – when Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong were forced to drop out because of injury. Morrison, though, discerned a saving grace in the situation, despite the absence of the influential Celtic midfielders.
“They were pivotal in the last few games and the victories but, on the other hand, our midfield is our strongest area,” said the West Bromwich Albion man. “Darren Fletcher has come in, Callum Mcgregor too and there’s also James Mcarthur, who’s more than capable, and Barry Bannan. We’ve some good players in that position.”
Behind the scenes at Hampden, meanwhile, the Scottish Professional Football League Trust – the charitable arm of the SPFL – has appointed the first woman chief executive to work in the administrative bodies based at the stadium. Nicky Reid has been general manager for two years, during which time the Trust’s Football Fans in Training scheme, which has delivered record figures for sustained weight loss amongst the participants, has been copied across the world.
“The board is delighted that Nicky is to become the SPFL Trust’s first chief executive,” said Bob Winter, former Lord Provost of Glasgow and chairman of the Trust.
“She’s an outstanding leader who brings charisma and great focus to the charity. Nicky has established strong relationships with government and football’s governing bodies, which in turn has strengthened our hand in supporting our clubs to support those who are in need.
“This appointment reflects the SPFL Trust’s ambitions to see Scottish football support communities across the country.”
Reid said: “We’re well en route to showing that we can have the most community-engaged league in the world, because our clubs are trusted to support those in need.
“Our stated mission is to support clubs to engage one million people a year by 2021, and so there is much to do, but I’ve no doubt that it’s a target we can reach.”