Steve Clarke reacts to Scotland’s horrific win-less run and Viaplay TV turn-off

STEVE CLARKE has opened his heart on Scotland’s nightmare run, admitting: This is horrible.

The manager is under pressure after just one win in 14 games, stretching back exactly 13 months.

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As his injury-ravaged squad head into Saturday night’s Nations League clash with Luka Modric-inspired Croatia, he admits the situation has got to him.

Asked if he’s reached the stage where he has to win games, Clarke said: “It’s not for me to decide, but it’s horrible, right? Not winning games, it’s horrible. How do I deal with that feeling? You should maybe ask my wife.

“I have to try and look at the big picture, though.

“I’m not saying we’re using this campaign to prepare for the next qualifying campaign, but there’s an element of it.

“That’s because the ultimate aim for me, which I’ve already spoken about, is to go to a World Cup, to the finals, with my country.

“That’s the challenge that I’m focused on.”

Scotland flew here to Zagreb without injured Celtic winger James Forrest, meaning Clarke is without 12 players who would have been in with a shout of starting against the 2018 World Cup finalists.

That could mean a huge opportunity for 18-year-old Ben Doak and the gaffer said: “It’s hardly worth going on about because the injuries are there for everyone to see.

“It’s been important to concentrate on the boys we do have — and there’s always, always a chance for someone to make an impact and kick-start our campaign.

“We can still compete with Croatia, if we didn’t think so we’d have been as well staying at home.

“It’s all going to be about small details.

“In our last two games against Poland and Portugal, I felt we were the better side, but we made mistakes and lost both times.

“We gave away two penalties in one, let in a long shot in the other that could maybe have been stopped.

“Here, now, if anyone comes in — and Ben is one who could — it’s up to them to grab it with both hands.

“James felt something in training the other day, so we decided to leave him at home to be assessed and we’ll decide — his club will decide — if we pick him up again for Portugal on Tuesday.”

Clarke then weighed into the row over no TV channel screening what is a vital qualifier — the first time Scotland have been blacked out since a friendly in Poland ten years ago.

Fans back home will only be able to watch on Scandinavian broadcaster Viaplay’s international YouTube feed, even though Thursday night’s England-Greece match was live on STV.

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He said: “You’ve got to be disappointed that nobody’s picked it up and put it on television.

“It would be nice for the fans to sit and watch the team and hopefully to see us play well and come away with a good result.

“I’m not getting involved with why England are on, but I feel for the Scotland fans back home. It’s a big disappointment.”

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