‘Big win’ over Russia can unite nation says Scotland boss Clarke

SCOTLAND manager Steve Clarke admits they need a “big win” to unite the nation behind them.

Clarke believes the visit of World Cup quarterfinalists Russia to Hampden tonight offers the next chance to do so but not necessarily the one they need to take.

Scotland face a pivotal three games in t heir chances of automatic qualification for the European Championship, with the visit of Belgium on Monday followed by a trip to Moscow on October 10.

Clarke took over in May with Scotland needing to pull a major result out of the bag following their shock opening defeat in Kazakhstan, and he feels it is about time the national team turned the tables.

Scotland have beaten the likes of Slovakia, Slovenia and the Republic of Ireland in recent campaigns and beat Croatia home and away in 2013 but the last time they took the scalp of one of the major football nations was in France in 2007.

When asked if Friday was a must-win game as Scotland look to close a three-point deficit on Russia, Clarke said: “Rather than put the pressure on to one game, over the course of the next three games we have to get enough points to make sure we are still in contention in the group.

“Whether it’s Friday or Monday or away to Russia, we need to get points, we are aware of that.

“We need a big win. As a country it’s been a long time since we turned over one of the so-called big boys.

“I think Russia, having been in the last eight of the World Cup, are one of the bigger teams.

“It’s about time that we, as a nation, rather than being on the receiving end, we are dishing out a result that’s deemed to be an upset. So, hopefully, tonight that can be the case.”

Scotland manager Steve Clarke.