Russell aims to get the few fans who are in seats leaping out of them
Johnny Russell insists three wins out of three from the final Euro 2020 qualifiers are essential for Scotland if the country is to have a fighting chance in the Nations League play-offs.
Losers in each of their last four outings, Steve Clarke’s men now know the backdoor route is their only hope of ending the 21-year wait to get back to a major finals.
However, before the March showdowns – in which Scotland are likely to face Bulgaria followed, if successful, by a final against Serbia or Norway – comes the end of the regulation campaign.
San Marino visit Hampden Park today with the list completed by games against Cyprus (away) and Kazakhstan (home) in the middle of next month.
If it is a run which leaves the Tartan Army underwhelmed – there are likely to be more empty seats than occupied ones this evening – for the players it is an opportunity to try and regroup.
“Thursday was a disappointing night, to say the least, and it has been a poor campaign overall,” said Russell, who was an unused substitute in Moscow.
“We are under no illusions about where we are, but it’s up to us. We need to get out of this rut and need to show a bit of fight to do so. There is no room for error.
“We need to build some momentum and confidence ahead of these games in March. Three wins is what we need.
“This has been a poor campaign, and we need to get the points on the board to improve our position in the group and to ready us for the play-offs.”
That, Russell acknowledges, will be easier said than done.
“We have to believe it is going to turn,” said the 29-year-old.“There is no point in sitting there, thinking, ‘Oh no. . .’.
“We have belief. The games have been difficult of late, the results have not been good enough, but this squad has the confidence in itself.
“Right up to the point Russia scored their first on Thursday, it looked OK.
“We had a plan to deal with Artem Dyzuba, and it was working to a tee. But then he got his goal, and we lost our way very quickly after that.
“There’s no point just saying we need to get out of the rut, though. We need to go out and make it happen.
“We need to start gearing up for those matches now, and prepare as if they are just round the corner.
“We can’t let negative thoughts come into it because we have a real opportunity in front of us. The goal all along has been to get to that tournament.
“The play-offs give us that chance, so we have something to aim at.
“We have to prepare as if those matches are just round the corner. This is the tune-up and we need to make sure we are at it because there is so much at stake.
“It’s all doom and gloom at themoment, but this can all turn very quickly.
“In less than a year’s time, we could be playing at a major tournament.”
For tonight’s game, Clarke does at least have the option of freshening his team up, and the Sporting Kansas City forward is optimistic his goal when the teams met in San Marino back in March will be remembered.
“I’m feeling ready, and I’m hoping to get a wee shot so I can hopefully help us get the result everyone needs,” he said.
“We’ll be looking to try to grab an early goal. We understand the crowd might not be the biggest or the noisiest, so we’ve got to try and lift their spirits and get them out of their seats.
“San Marino were stuffy over there and we expect more of the same.
“People expected that night to be a walkover, but they are used to sitting in and trying to frustrate the opposition.
“The bigger pitch can play to our advantage. The onus is on us to go out and take the game to them and that’s what we intend to do.”