Dutch defeat must prove a key lesson, says Christie

RYAN Christie admits Scotland have to take heed of a “good lesson” from Friday’s 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands or their Euro 2024 stay could be short.

Steve Clarke’s side are recovering from a heavy loss in Amsterdam which did not look like coming for the majority of the friendly encounter.

Amid a fine first-half display by the Scots, Bournemouth midfielder Christie, pictured, had a header tipped on to the crossbar by Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken but the home side took the lead five minutes before the break with a stunning Tijjani Reijnders drive from distance.

Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland missed a glorious chance in the 62nd minute when he hit the bar with only the keeper to beat and 10 minutes later Georginio Wijnaldum headed in a second from eight yards to take the wind out of Scottish sails.

Further goals from substitutes Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen in the 84th and 86th minutes made it six games without a win for the Scots and 18 goals conceded ahead of the friendly against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park tomorrow night – another game which is geared to getting Scotland ready for the opening fixture of the Euros against host side Germany in the Allianz Arena on June 14.

Christie said: “I’ve got to probably score one of the headers and obviously Shanks has a good chance, so it’s frustrating not to get on the scoresheet but there were plenty of positives to take.

“It’s a good lesson and obviously it’s handy to learn this lesson now in a friendly game that doesn’t mean anything.

“And obviously we’re going to start the Euros against a team of similar quality in Germany, so you can’t let that happen or you’re almost out of the tournament after one game.

“So it’s good to learn that lesson now. Now we’re going into Tuesday night and hopefully we can get a positive result and then get back on the winning train again.”

Scotland defender Ryan Porteous accepts the team have to improve defensively.

He said: “We are going through a spell right now with six games, we’ve conceded a number of goals and it’s definitely something we want to rectify as a team and, lucky for us, we’ve got another game on Tuesday to try to do that.”

The match may well have turned out differently had Shankland netted when he was through against Flekken, but former Hibs defender Porteous was understanding.

He said: “I thought he was excellent against arguably the best centre-half in the world (Virgil van Dijk).

“His game has come on leaps and bounds in the last year and he can hold his head up high after that performance.”