Result first for Steve Clarke, as Scotland look to end winless run
Steve Clarke addresses the media (Credit @ScottishNT X)
Steve Clarke has stated that the result is more important than the performance, as his Scotland side look to end a winless run of six games, when they host Northern Ireland this evening.
Despite suffering a 4-0 loss away to the Netherlands on Friday night, the Scotland manager believes there are positives to extract from the performance. Although he admitted that his players have reacted better than himself to the defeat over recent days.
“They’ve had to pick me up. I tend to sulk a little bit longer than they do, they move on a little bit quicker,” said Clarke.
“I get the feeling among the players that they just want the chance to get on the pitch on Tuesday night and look to improve, and put right a few things that went wrong for us in the last stages of the game on Friday.”
New era for Northern Ireland?
Tuesday’s opposition will be a youthful Northern Ireland, who have enjoyed an uplift in form since Michael O’Neill returned to the managerial role in December 2022.
A Jamie Reid goal was cancelled out by a Romania equaliser on Friday night, as Northern Ireland recorded an impressive 1-1 draw in Bucharest.
This result followed a 2-0 victory over Denmark in their final Euro 2024 qualifying game and further promise has been added with the form of Liverpool starlet Conor Bradley.
Steve Clarke added: “Michael’s quite good at talking his team down a little bit, but they’re very competitive and don’t lose many games by a big margin.”
How will Scotland shape up?
After going full strength in Amsterdam, the Tartan Army will wait to see Clarke’s team selection.
Rangers defender John Souttar has faced scrutiny for his performance off the bench at the Johan Cruyff Arena, coming on in the 68th minute as his side shipped three late goals.
However, Souttar has enjoyed a strong spell of form at club level and is expected to provide competition to starters Jack Hendry and Ryan Porteous.
Meanwhile, supporters have been clamouring to see a rare start for Bolonga captain Lewis Ferguson, who is enjoying a stellar season in the top flight of Italian football.
The 24-year-old has only started two games for his national team, finding himself behind John McGinn and Scott McTominay in attacking midfield.
And despite flattering to deceive on Friday night, Steve Clarke found sympathy for his substitutes, despite the Netherland’s late flurry of goals.
“Within three minutes of them coming on the pitch we had conceded the second goal, so they didn’t really get a chance to bed into the game. From there, the game ran away from us for reasons that we now know.
“We concentrated on the performance which was 70 minutes and then we focused on the result, which was the final 20 minutes of the game.”
Clarke will also have to decide between his striking options, with Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland getting the nod over Che Adams in Amsterdam, as a reward for his fine form this season.
