Leigh Griffiths: Sacking Gordon Strachan is not the answer

England defender Kyle Walker, right, argues with Scotland's forward Leigh Griffiths during Friday's World Cup 2018 qualification match between England and Scotland at Wembley. Picture: Adrian Dennis/Getty

Gordon Strachan is under increasing pressure following the 3-0 defeat by England at Wembley on Friday night, which dealt a major if not fatal blow to the Scots’ 2018 World Cup qualification prospects.

The visitors started full of promise but striker Daniel Sturridge’s header after 24 minutes established the home side’s lead and Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill added further headed goals after the interval.

The Scots dropped to fifth place in Group F with four points from four games, sitting above only Malta, and the post-mortem which followed the defeat by the same scoreline in Slovakia last month resumed long before the final whistle sounded in London.

It is understood that the Scottish Football Association appreciate that four points from 12 is a major disappointment and are aware of the prevailing mood but the best route forward, and the way in which impetus will be regained, will tax the governing body and Strachan himself.

However, Griffiths, one of eight changes made to the side which started in Slovakia, is behind the boss .

“Obviously it is a results-based business but changing a manager midway through a campaign is not the answer,” said the Celtic striker.

“As players, we need to focus on the next qualifier.

“The manager told us to keep our heads up. We are bitterly disappointed but we go away and when we meet up in March for the next qualifier, we need to be ready.

“We need to remember that these guys [England] are playing at a top, top level every week and you have to give credit where credit is due.”

Midfielder James Morrison, another surprise starter, claimed Scotland paid dearly for the loss of “silly goals at crucial times” but insists Strachan is still the man for the job.

“Yes, certainly,” he said.

“I think we all really appreciate Gordon. He is a man full of knowledge.

“He has played at the top level, managed at Celtic for a number of years and I would like to see a man who knows more about football than Gordon so yes, definitely behind him.”

“There are lots of positives. I think when the third went in that’s when they dominated but if we take our chances it is a different game.

“We were the ones that were pressing.”

Despite the damaging result at Wembley, Griffiths insists the players are “still upbeat” ahead of the visit of Slovenia next March.

The former Hibs player said: “We need to go into the home games still with great confidence, we need to make the home games count.

“It was difficult against Lithuania [1-1 at Hampden] but there are still a lot of home games to go and all to play for, I think.”

Griffiths got the start he wanted, preferred to Chris Martin and Steven Fletcher. However, in a first-half break he squandered a golden opportunity to play in Robert Snodgrass, opting to shoot to incur the wrath of his team-mate.

“It is one of those things,” he said

“I am in the middle of the goal and I heard him shouting.

“I thought the midfielder tracked him and I just thought to have a shot but it is one of those things.

“It is still part of my game that I need to learn but I thought overall I didn’t do too badly.”