We CAN’T afford to lose: Strachan

GORDON STRACHAN has admitted the World Cup qualifying showdown with England at Hampden is a game Scotland cannot afford to lose.

The national manager coaxed a tenure-saving triumph over Slovenia out of his squad back in March, having labelled that home tie as ‘a must-win’.

A 1-0 victory staved off mounting pressure on his position and kept alive dwindling hopes of securing a Russia 2018 play-off berth from Group F.

Now Strachan gathers a 24-man squad together today with the demand to prise at least a point from next Saturday’s fixture.

‘This one is: “Must not get beaten”,’ said Strachan. ‘I am thinking about victory. But “must not get beaten” keeps us in it.’

Chris Martin’s 88th-minute goal against Slovenia kept Scotland on the fringes of the race for second place, two points adrift of Slovakia and one behind Slovenia.

England have not conceded a goal in five group games and only dropped points by drawing away to the Slovenians.