Clarke 'still a little uptight' as Poland await

Head coach Steve Clarke is "still a little bit uptight" despite Scotland breaking their long winless run with victory over Croatia, but says his side will face Poland on Monday with a potentially significant triumph in their sights.

John McGinn's 19th international goal gave the Scots their first competitive victory since they beat Cyprus 3-0 in September 2023.

It keeps their hopes of a finishing second in Nations League A Group 1 alive.

Scotland need to win in Warsaw on Monday, Croatia to lose to Portugal in Split at the same time, and for there to be a three-goal swing.

With a top seeding on the line for World Cup qualifying, in addition to a quarter-final spot, Clarke is not allowing himself to relax.

"The first job is to go there and win," he said. "We'll count up the goals and whatever else afterwards.

"Let's take it one step at a time, it's been a hell of a long time since we got a win so it'd be nice to get another.

"For me the pressure is not released. I still feel a little bit uptight. Just with the nature of the game when it's so tight going into the end you're always waiting on that low blow that's affected us a few times recently."

Scotland have performed well at times in this Nations League campaign without finding the victory their performances perhaps deserved.

Against Croatia, they benefitted from the first-half decision to send off Luka Sucic for a soft second yellow card, and Clarke says his side "were due" that piece of good fortune.

"The sending off changed the game," he conceded.

"This is a group of players that want to be successful. That's another clean sheet, two in a row. If you don't concede goals you always have a chance to win the game."

'Very special Doak undroppable'

While McGinn scored the decisive goal, it was 19-year-old Ben Doak who drove Scotland forward in the second half - providing the energy and impetus the national team have so often lacked in big games.

The Liverpool forward has impressed on loan at Middlesbrough this season and he carried his club form onto the international stage, terrorising Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol with his pace and trickery.

"He's come into the team, he's shown a really positive attitude, he gives us something different to what we've had before," Clarke said of the former Celtic kid.

"He gets the assist for the goal, could maybe have had a couple more, maybe have scored one himself.

"He's a young player we need to protect and look after but realise that he's good for now and hopefully for a long time in the future."

Doak had the most touches in Croatia's box of any Scotland player, created the most chances, and showed a fearlessness that sometimes only youth can bring.

"He has got a lot of things - ridiculous pace, good skills and no lack of belief," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 live.

"Tonight was a breakthrough. Coming of age at 19 is saying a lot, but he is very, very special. At this point in time, he looks undroppable for Scotland."

The man himself played down his impact.

"I just try and do what's best for the team and do what I'm good at," Doak said. "If one of my actions leads to winning the game then that's great.

"I know I'm one of the younger lads in the squad and I'll try and take every opportunity by the scruff of the neck as best I can."

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