Steve Clarke spells out Scotland message to Tartan Army as injury situation spelled out

Steve Clarke has urged the Tartan Army to get behind Scotland from the very first minute against Denmark as the team look to take full advantage of the second chance they have been afforded to secure automatic World Cup qualification.

Although the Scots lost 3-2 in Greece when it was expected only a draw or win would achieve their aim of taking the issue to the last game, the Danes dropping points at home against Belarus means it’s all to play for at Hampden on Tuesday night. Scotland need to win to finish top of Group C while Denmark must avoid defeat on what is likely to be a tense night in Glasgow.

Clarke has pleaded for positivity and patience following the previous two home qualifiers, when the disquiet was palpable as Scotland struggled to overcome both Greece and Belarus. A slow start was the problem in the away fixture against Greece on Saturday night.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend. | Getty Images

“Although we lost the game (v Greece), we probably finished with good momentum,” said Clarke. “We want to carry that into Tuesday with the help of a full Hampden, and hopefully a very positive Hampden from the first kick off. As I have said before, they are a great group of players. But we are going to need backing from the first minute at Hampden. We need positive backing. One of my favourite sayings for the players is play with anticipation of success and not fear of failure.

“I am going to ask the Hampden crowd to do that on Tuesday night. We need them from the first minute to be with us and then in the difficult moments of the game to be especially with us. That is what this group of players deserve and if they get that, I am pretty sure we can do something special.”

Scotland have not qualified for a World Cup at Hampden since 1989, when they needed a point to secure a place at Italia ’90. Ally McCoist’s lob near the end of the first half looked to have settled nerves but a late equaliser after Erland Johnsen’s squeezed past Jim Leighton made for an anxious end to the match.

‘I think they can inspire each other’

The last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup, in 1997, the final group match was staged at Celtic Park due to ongoing renovation work at Hampden. Goals from Kevin Gallacher and Gordon Durie clinched a 2-0 win over Latvia and sent Craig Brown’s team to France ’98.

Clarke is hopeful the home crowd will be a factor in a long-awaited return to international football’s top table. He also recognises it goes both ways – the players must seek to give the fans something to cheer, something they initially failed to do against Greece in Piraeus when they collapsed to 3-0 down with barely more than an hour played. Goals from Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie meant the Scots were pushing for an equaliser while Belarus were holding on against Denmark.

“I think they can inspire each other,” he said. “The team can inspire the fans and the fans can inspire the team. Obviously it’s a very good Denmark team. They will be hurting that they haven’t managed to win their game. I hope it’s another good spectacle for everybody and hopefully the right result this time.”

Clarke reported no fresh injury worries after the game against Greece, which the Scots eventually lost 3-2. Billy Gilmour is expected to return to the squad after missing the trip to Turkey for a pre-game warm weather camp due to an injury picked up while playing for Napoli.