SCOTLAND skipper Andy Robertson admits there are no excuses for Scotland’s desperate display in the unconvincing 2-1 win over Belarus at Hampden last night.
The victory completed a 100 per record in the World Cup double-header after the 3-1 comeback victory over Greece at the same venue on Thursday.
The Scots may have picked up maximum points to leave them two wins from the Finals next summer, but both displays were not easy on the eye – and the Tartan Army were not slow to show their displeasure on this occasion with boos and jeers echoing around the national stadium at the final whistle.
Celtic double-act Anthony Ralston ad Kieran Tierney were both involved with the right-back starting the game and lasting until the 72nd minute before being replaced with his Hoops team-mate.
THE CELTIC TWO-STEP…Kieran Tierney prepares to replace team-mate Anthony Ralston in the World Cup win over Belarus at Hampden.
It was anticpated the hosts would have sealed the triumph with some goals to spare against opponents who are still without a point in Group C and who had trailed 4-0 at half-time in their previous two outings, losing 5-1 and 6-0 to Greece and Denmark respectively.
Scotland, though, fumbled their way through a dreadful showing and have strikes from Che Adams and Scott McTominay to thank for their three points.
Immediately after the match, Liverpool left-back Robertson said: “It doesn’t feel like a win at the minute.
“I think you can see that by our reaction at the end which is hugely frustrating. The performance is nowhere near where we need it to be.
“At the start of the week, we would have taken the six points and we can look back in November at where we are.
“But currently walking off the pitch it doesn’t feel good. We gave them far too many chances. I don’t know if we were tired from Thursday night, we put a lot into that one, but that’s no excuse.
“We weren’t good on or off the ball. We could have, with slightly better decision making, had a couple more chances.
“It’s a hugely frustrating night, we felt that in the stands, I didn’t quite understand it on Thursday, but I understand it on this occasion.
“We’ll take that on board next month when we’ve got the chance to go to a World Cup and that’s what we’re focused on.”
MATCHWINNER…Scott McTominay slams in the crucial points-clincher.
The Scots are scheduled to meet Greece in Athens on Saturday November 15 and wrap up the group with a match against Kasper Schmeichel and his Danish team-mates at Hampden three days later.
Matchwinner McTominay, speaking to BBC Scotland, continued: “We know we’ve got to be better.
“We need to show much more than we are at the minute, me included. The manager had every right not to be happy at half-time. It’s down to us to show it on the pitch.”
Defender Scott McKenna added: “At half-time, we came in 1-0 up, but the manager was furious with us and rightly so.
“We struggled to win first balls and we certainly didn’t win any second balls.
“We made life really difficult for ourselves.
“Belarus probably looked more dangerous than us across the 90 minutes.”
