Steve Clarke warns job is far from done after battling Scots secure advantage in Nations League playoff

Steve Clarke insisted that the job is only half done despite Scotland winning in Greece for the first time.

Scott McTominay’s 33rd-minute penalty was enough to ensure Clarke’s side will return to Glasgow having secured a prized advantage in the Nations League play-off as they seek to preserve their top-tier status.

After taking the game to Greece in the first half, Scotland defended heroically to claim the clean sheet which extended their winning streak to three matches and ensured they are now four games unbeaten.

Adamant that anyone would be foolish to discount a talented Greece team ahead of Sunday’s return leg, though, head coach Clarke said: ‘From the second half, we know that the game at Hampden is going to be difficult because Greece are a good side.

‘Their away record in the group stage of the Nations League is a win in Ireland, a win in Finland and a win in England against England at Wembley.

‘So, we know it’s going to be a tough game. This game is not dead yet. No way.’

Scotland boss Steve Clarke says Greece will be tough opponents in Sunday’s second leg

Scotland had to defend heroically during the first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff

Clarke was pleased with the outcome, but felt his players could have been reflecting on an even more impressive result had they taken their chances before half-time.

‘We knew we were coming to play a good side. We knew it was going to be a tough game. I thought in the first half, we were really good,’ he added.

‘We’d a lot of good play with the ball, created some really good chances. We could have been at least two in front at half-time. But we went in at half-time one in front.

‘We knew Greece would come at us a little bit second half. They did and we didn’t quite manage to regain our rhythm. So, we had to show a different side to our game, a different side to our character — brave defending.

‘Maybe we should have been a little bit braver on the ball and tried to dictate the game a little bit more second half.

‘We just couldn’t quite get our foot on the ball. We didn’t get into the opposition half often enough. That’s something we have to do a little bit better.’

Clarke was unstinting in his praise for the defensive efforts which earned a clean sheet.

‘Two of the defenders don’t play regularly at their club either which is a big credit to them and how they prepared themselves,’ he added. ‘We worked hard, but we dropped a little bit too deep. You defend as a team. We were under a lot of pressure second half.

‘A lot of situations, corners, free-kicks, we defended them really well. And when you strip back the figures, there’s only one shot on target.’