Strachan’s key: sticking by his guns

THE courage of Gordon Strachan in sticking with his unpopular convictions has been the key to Scotland’s revival, according to Leigh Griffiths.

A tumultuous Group F campaign reaches its climax in Ljubljana tonight where an away victory will clinch a playoff spot next month for a squad that was down — and in most eyes out — 12 months ago. The SFA stood by their manager following 3-0 defeats to Slovakia and England before the qualifying momentum swung on a decision roundly jeered by the Tartan Army.

Chris Martin’s introduction against Slovenia last March provided the matchwinner and saved the campaign, and he came on at Hampden again on Thursday to pressurise Slovakia skipper Martin Skrtel into scoring an own goal.

Strachan had repeatedly ignored the public clamour for Griffiths to be installed as his No9 in favour of both Martin and Steven Fletcher, before letting the Celtic striker off the leash to great effect.

The Scotland boss also disregarded the pre-Slovakia drum-banging for the inclusion of John McGinn and Callum McGregor, sticking with tried and trusted midfielders.

Griffiths appreciates such decisions are not designed to appease wider opinion. ‘Nobody will be happier than him,’ he said of Strachan’s turnaround.

‘Earlier in the campaign he was getting a lot of stick from a lot of folk but he stuck at it. He doesn’t let it get to him, he just concentrates on his job and working with the players.

‘He doesn’t do what everyone wants him to do. He does what he wants. You have to give him massive credit for that.’