Steve Clarke felt his Scotland facet ended their lengthy anticipate a win with arguably their poorest efficiency of the UEFA Nations League marketing campaign – however have been due the break they obtained from Croatia’s disputed pink card.
Croatia appeared the extra harmful facet till Petar Sucic obtained a second yellow card within the forty fourth minute for a lazy studs-up problem on John Souttar, having earlier been booked for an innocuous foul on Billy Gilmour.
Scotland’s ultimate ball allow them to down as they tried to drive residence the numerical benefit and Croatia even had one of the best second-half likelihood earlier than substitute John McGinn knocked residence the one purpose within the 86th minute.
Scotland stay backside of part A1 however will keep away from automated relegation in the event that they win in Warsaw on Monday in opposition to a Poland facet contemporary from a 5-1 defeat in opposition to group winners Portugal.
Clarke, whose facet went 10 aggressive matches with out victory, stated: “It is good to have a win on the board in a aggressive match.
“Actually happy with the gamers, the trouble they’ve put in up till now. They deserve extra factors and it is good to get that win.
“I feel we will be higher with the ball, I feel we will be extra medical after we get to the ultimate third. Clearly the sending-off adjustments the course of the sport. However we have been due a bit break.
“We’ve been building performances. If I’m being honest, I think tonight was probably one of our poorest performances out of the five games we’ve played so far. But we got the little breaks that fell in our favour and we managed to turn that into a win.”
John McGinn scored the one purpose of the sport
Clarke’s facet have even given themselves an outdoor likelihood of ending second, which might ship them into the quarter-finals and pot one among subsequent month’s World Cup qualifying draw, in addition to making certain they keep within the elite stage of the Nations League.
In addition to beating Poland, Scotland would want Portugal to win in Croatia with at the least one of many victories by a margin of two targets or extra.
Clarke is just not pondering of purpose distinction.
“We have to win,” he stated. “First job is to go there and win. If we do that then we’ll count up the goals and whatever afterwards.
“However let’s take it a step at a time. It has been a hell of a very long time since we have a win. Now we have to get one other one on Monday night time.”
Ben Doak impressed for Scotland in opposition to Croatia
Clarke revealed he began McGinn on the bench due to how Ben Doak and Ryan Christie performed final month when the Aston Villa midfielder was injured.
“But I also knew that I was strengthening the bench a little bit,” he added. “You’ve got John to come in, and he does what he does. He comes off the bench and scores the winner.”
McGinn’s likelihood got here from a saved shot from Doak, whose direct working was Scotland’s most potent menace.
“He was good but I thought he might be,” Clarke stated. “He’s come into the team, he’s shown a really positive attitude.
“He brings us one thing a bit bit completely different to what we have had earlier than. So actually happy with Ben. He will get the help for the purpose, might perhaps have a pair extra, might perhaps have scored one himself.
“That’s a contribution from a young player that we need to protect and look after. We realise that he’s good for now and hopefully for a long time in the future.”
