Clarke backs Scotland to fill gaps in play-off push
Last time Scotland played a World Cup qualifier in Moldova – in October 2004 – this correspondent was surprised to find that, on the bedside cabinet, a guide to services provided by the hotel offered armed guards “available by asking at the reception desk”.
By the end of the evening, their presence looked as though it might be a necessity for Berti Vogts after his team had drawn 1-1 against a mediocre side to put an end to hope of participating in the 2006 finals.
In the event, Vogts claimed he had been spat upon by angry Tartan Army foot-soldiers – he had not, as those of us who were present could testify – but his spell as Scotland manager ended the following month. Happily, even if the outcome of tonight’s qualifier in Chisinau does not favour the Scots, Steve Clarke is in no peril of sharing his predecessor’s fate.
For one thing, having steered the squad to their first tournament finals in 23 years at Euro 2020 in the summer, Clarke is now one victory away from making a second set of play-offs in the space of a year.
Moreover, the team are on a run of four successive wins, including 1-0 against the Moldovans at Hampden Park, where the visitors proved to be effectively stuffy, as expected.
Important participants in that sequence will be missing on this occasion. Lyndon Dykes and Ryan Christie are suspended, while Scott Mctominay was added to the list of absentees yesterday. “Scott has picked up a throat virus so we have sent him home to rest and recuperate and hopefully he will join us again at the weekend,” Clarke said.
“I looked at the squad and you can think about calling someone up, but we have good cover at centreback and good cover in midfield. Yes, it’s disappointing to lose Scott, but it’s going to be a big chance for someone else to play in the team.
“Anybody I have picked for this squad is a player who can contribute, whether it’s from the start or off the bench. Yes, it’s disappointing to lose Lyndon, because he was on a good scoring run for us, but what a great chance for someone else to be the guy who catches the headlines.” Dykes did not travel with the squad and he had to be told not to make his own way to Chisinau.
“Lyndon has stayed behind because of his suspension for the first game and because he had a virus at the weekend and a little knock,” Clarke said. “I had to get Graeme Jones [Scottish Football Association head of performance] to persuade him not to take a flight to Moldova to watch the game and then fly back with the team. That shows the kind of commitment and the people we have in the squad, which is fantastic.”
Given Moldova’s likely approach to the contest and the absence of Dykes, Christie and Mctominay, the importance of set-piece plays cannot be overestimated. Austin Macphee, Aston Villa’s set-piece coach, has been an addition to the staff since Clarke took over.
“It’s been good, something different,” Clarke said. “I like to take myself out of my comfort zone at times so, for me, Austin brings statistics and percentages and, on some of them, we improved.
“We conceded two goals against Israel from set-pieces, so that was a negative, but we’ve worked on the organisation and hopefully we get that sorted. We scored the winning goal against Israel from a set-play, and when you bring in someone like Austin you’re looking to improve the one per cent that turns a qualifying campaign into a success.
“If you take the Israel game as an example, instead of drawing 2-2 we scored with a late set-play and turned one point into three points. Those are the marginal gains we are looking for.”