COOPER HOPING TO LEARN LESSON AFTER FINALLY PICKING UP CAP

LIAM COOPER admits his joy at finally being granted a first full Scotland cap was quickly wiped out by a harsh lesson in the ruthlessness of international football.

The Leeds United captain finally saw some action in dark blue in the 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying loss to Russia more than three years after first being called into a national squad under ex-manager Gordon Strachan.

However, he left with a keen understanding of how the slightest error of judgment will be punished after the excellent Aleksandr Golovin stole in behind him and squared for Stephen O’Donnell to put the ball into his own net for the winner.

‘We lost the ball in the middle of the park and were out of position,’ said Cooper. ‘The ball got played in behind and it was a sloppy goal to concede. Obviously, we need to sort that out.

‘It was tough. I was delighted to get my cap, but it was all about the result and we didn’t get that. It is hard to take.

‘We got about them, but we sat off after getting the goal and good players at this level will hurt you if you give them time on the ball.

‘I wouldn’t say international football is faster. The Championship can be frenetic. I believe your mistakes just get punished a lot more. We lost sloppy goals.’

For all that, Cooper (above) believes his partnership with Charlie Mulgrew in the centre of defence showed some promising signs despite Russia striker Artem Dzyuba getting on the scoresheet and forcing a save from goalkeeper David Marshall.

‘I know Charlie from playing against him in the Championship,’ he said.

‘He is a great lad and a great player and I thought we dealt well with the big man (Dzyuba).

‘Obviously, he is going to win his fair share of headers, but it is how you deal with the second ball and I thought we dealt well with that.

‘That bit of quality just opened us up and we paid the price.’

Cooper knows what being involved in a win over the might of Belgium tomorrow night would do for his longer-term prospects, but believes it is more important to give the nation a lift — and quickly.

‘We need a result. We’ll recover and work on a plan to go and beat Belgium,’ he said.

‘That would definitely lift morale. The quality in the group is very good and we have a good, young squad with a sprinkling of experience.

‘There is no reason why we cannot get a shock result.’