Boss told us to believe in ourselves and that’s the best we’ve played

SAYS ROBERT SNODGRASS

ASWITCH was flicked in the minds of the Scotland players. In the hour of Gordon Strachan’s greatest need, they responded to his demand to rediscover faith in themselves.

Robert Snodgrass could see and sense the difference, having played all 90 minutes of last Wednesday evening’s 1-1 draw against Canada at Easter Road.

A more laboured, less inspiring international match is difficult to imagine.

Yes, it was only a friendly, but it extended the feel-bad factor in the wake of successive 3-0 defeats to Slovakia and England on competitive business.

Stirring Scotland from their torpor was essential when Slovenia came to town. It was achieved with a performance that belied those previous toils.

To Snodgrass (below), the mentality displayed in Sunday night’s hope-nurturing 1-0 win has set a standard that must be maintained when England arrive in June.

‘That is the best we’ve played in this campaign,’ reflected the West Ham United midfielder. ‘Slovenia are a big, physical side and it was up to us to trust ourselves on the ball.

‘We didn’t do that against Canada. When you get that losing mentality, you lose faith in what the aim is.

‘The manager touched on that and urged us to get back to where we were in the last campaign. We put them under pressure and that’s what it takes at the top level.

‘Can this be a turning point? We will take one game at a time. You can lose sight of what the objective was at the start of the campaign. People say: “Let’s go and win all the games, let’s do this and do that”.

‘We lost in Slovakia, which was shocking, and Lithuania at home wasn’t us. That is not what we are all about.

‘The manager says it is tough sometimes but that we have got to deliver. In stages against Slovenia, we created the chances which were lacking before.

‘You see Stuart Armstrong getting the ball late on and he could have just launched it into the box. But he made a great pass into Chris Martin’s feet. Chris has made a career out of that. It is a great turn and great finish.’

England should prove more obdurate visitors than Slovenia. Gareth Southgate’s team now carry the distinction of being the only UEFA nation yet to concede during this World Cup qualification programme.

Scotland had chances to breach their defence at Wembley last November, but took none of them.

Snodgrass knows there can be no repeat of that scenario if the upturn in Group F is to thrive into the autumn.

‘After we played them the last time, people kept saying “same old Scotland”,’ admitted the 29-year-old. ‘But before the first goal, I thought we were doing well.

‘I don’t think we got credit for the level of performance because we lost 3-0, but that’s what happens. Now we head into the Hampden game on the back of three points.

‘That is the level we need to be at against England. You need to be creating chances if you want to win the game. We did that thanks to Chris popping up with a bit of magic.’

Martin’s left-foot finish came after he had been booed on to the pitch by a section of the Tartan Army when replacing James Morrison.

Snodgrass believes Strachan deserves credit for a making a vital substitution call in defiance of public opinion.

‘That is part and parcel of football,’ said Snodgrass, when asked about the booing. ‘Chris knows that.

‘Chris is a big enough boy. He’s probably had it at different stages of his career when he’s going through a goal drought. He’s a great lad and great to have around the place.

‘The manager has to be given credit for putting him on in the first place. He maybe knew he was going to get that reception.

‘I’m delighted for both of them — for the manager to have the courage to make that decision and for Chris to go on and have the last laugh.’

Martin’s rapid altering of opinions was the headline act on an evening of personal success stories. Stuart Armstrong sparkled on his Scotland debut, while Celtic colleague Kieran Tierney adapted ably to being fielded on an unfamiliar defensive flank. ‘I thought Tierney looked as if he had played at right-back all his career,’ Snodgrass enthused.

‘He was brilliant and, for such a young lad, he has a great head on his shoulders. ‘I told him he has been playing out of position on the left! ‘I thought Scott Brown was massive for us as well. ‘He was that driving force at times and was encouraging the young lads to do well.

‘You could see the Celtic boys were playing with confidence at club level.’