Russia collapse must be Scots’ lowest point, says Clarke
Scotland’s ruinous campaign continued in Moscow as Steve Clarke’s side collapsed to suffer a second defeat to Russia with Artem Dzyuba directing the wrecker’s ball.
The Russia captain, who also hit the crossbar, delivered two secondhalf strikes, supplemented by a spectacular drive from Magomed Ozdoev and a late goal by Aleksandr Golovin.
Despite holding Russia in the first half, Scotland fell apart after Dzyuba’s opening goal in the 57th minute. “I have to put it down to fragile confidence,” Clarke said. “The players seem to lose heart very quickly, which is unfortunate because we had done OK up to that point.
“For us, it’s to try and make sure this is the very, very bottom of the lowest and we build from here and make sure that come March, we are able to be very, very competitive and get through the play-offs.”
Cyprus, whom Scotland face away next month, had already beaten Kazakhstan 2-1 to increase the pressure on Clarke’s team. The Scots looked fragile in defence and short of menace in attack. Liam Palmer was making his second appearance at this level while centre-back Michael Devlin has played only four times for Aberdeen this season.
John Fleck was another debutant, taking his place in midfield alongside John Mcginn and Callum Mcgregor. Leading the attack was Oliver Burke, flanked by Robert Snodgrass and Ryan Fraser.
By the interval, Burke had seen a single tantalising glimpse of Guilherme Marinato’s goal, a vision that was shut off when the Alaves striker ran out of options on one of Scotland’s sporadic counter-attacks.
The situation worsened when Burke took an elbow in the small of the back from Georgi Dzhikiya, so that it was no surprise when Dundee United’s Lawrence Shankland replaced him for the start of the second half.
By that stage, the Scots had served up a decent performance, with David Marshall having had to make one save of note, a parry from Golovin shortly before the break. Russia, though, increased their tempo and pressure and inflicted damage twice within three minutes.
The first wound came from a corner kick where Charlie Mulgrew allowed Dzyuba to spin off him for a volleyed finish high past Marshall. The goalkeeper was again exposed fatally at Russia’s next thrust, when Golovin played the ball back for Ozdoev to thrash a drive into the net.
The Scots’ torment was not finished as Dzyuba demonstrated when he was allowed to poke home despite being in the midst of three dark-blue jerseys two yards out. Golovin completed their misery with a close-range shot off the post.
Russia (4-2-3-1) Guilherme (Lokomotiv); Fernandes (CSKA), Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Dzhikiya (Spartak), Kudryashov (Sochi); Ozdoev (Zenit), Barinov (Lokomotiv); Ionov (Rostov), Golovin (Monaco), Zhirkov (Zenit); Dzyuba (Zenit). Subs Cherysev (Valencia) for Zhirkov 66, Akhmetov (CSKA) for Ionov 80, Komlichenko (Mlada Boleslav) for Dzyuba 87.
Scotland (4-2-3-1) Marshall (Wigan); Palmer (Sheffield Wed), Devlin (Aberdeen), Mulgrew (Wigan), Robertson (Liverpool); Mcgregor (Celtic), Fleck (Sheffield Utd); Fraser (Bournemouth), Mcginn (Aston Villa), Snodgrass (West Ham); Burke (Alaves). Subs Shankland (Dundee Utd) for Burke h-t, Christie (Celtic) for Fraser 68, Armstrong (Southampton) for Fleck 82.
Booked Fleck.
Referee Jakob Kehlet (Denmark).