McLeish takes heart from loss to Portugal

Robertson: Nations League chance hinges on Albania

MATTHEW LINDSAY

ALEX McLEISH last night insisted he had been heartened by aspects of Scotland’s performance in their 3-1 defeat to European champions Portugal at Hampden.

And he expressed confidence the national team can recover from the sixth loss of his second reign as manager in their Nations League matches away to Albania and against Israel at home next month.

The 59-year-old was under pressure following his team’s poor display in the 2-1 reverse to Israel in Haifa in their second League C Group 1 match on Thursday evening.

However, goals from Helder Costa, Eder and Bruma gave the visitors, who were missing talisman Cristiano Ronaldo amongst other big-name players, a comfortable triumph. SCOTLAND captain Andy Robertson has insisted it is “now or never” as Alex McLeish’s side attempted to dust themselves down from another bruising encounter last night.

In the aftermath of the humbling 3-1 defeat to a weakened Portugal side, Robertson was already

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McLeish, who has introduced several youngsters to international football since being appointed in February, revealed he had been encouraged by much of Scotland’s play.

“We were compact we played some good football going forward,” he said. “There wasn’t really an

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