THE SCOTTISH SUN 🔵 Steve Clarke left frustrated by ‘self-inflicted’ Scotland errors in Poland loss

SCOTLAND boss Steve Clarke reckons his side showed they were capable of being more ‘adventurous’ despite a heartbreaking defeat to Poland.

It’s now just one win in THIRTEEN games after late, costly drama in the Nations League opener at Hampden Park.

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Scotland returned to their Glasgow home for the first time following the summer’s poor showing at Euro 2024.

But hopes of a return to recent glory nights looked unlikely when Sebastian Szymanski fired Poland into an early lead.

The Fenerbahce ace capitalised on poor midfield play that saw a slack Kenny McLean pass to Billy Gilmour pounced upon.

Anthony Ralston’s clumsy challenge in the box gifted Robert Lewandowski the chance to double Poland’s lead before half-time.

Gilmour and Scott McTominay would then dramatically score in the second-half as Clarke’s men mounted a dramatic fightback to level things at 2-2.

But instead of going on to turn things around, Scotland suffered heartbreaking defeat.

Another clumsy challenge in the box saw Grant Hanley concede a spot-kick in the NINETY-SIXTH minute of the game.

Nicola Zalewski, the man he fouled, picked himself up to fire the winning goal past Angus Gunn.

Scotland boss Clarke was left bemoaning the errors that ultimately cost his side anything from the game.

But he refused to blame any one individual.

Clarke also reckons his side showed a more ADVENTUROUS side and insisted the squad needs more time to get to grips with a change in shape and approach.

Ryan Gauld and Ben Doak both came off the bench to make their international debuts as the side took on a more attacking look about it.

He said: « Disappointed to lose the game after, believe it or not, such a good performance.

« The goals against were probably self inflicted which probably makes a little bit harder to take. »

Clarke added: « These are the things that we have to work on. We have to be accountable for individual mistakes. Nobody tries to make them, we’re not pointing figures at anybody we win as a team we lose as a team.

« There are a lot of good things that we have to look at as well. Change of shape, not a lot of time to work on it, I think the way the team played, the way they showed with the ball was certainly a little bit more adventurous.

« We weren’t open at the back. It’s not as if we were picked apart at the back. We just made three mistakes and it’s cost us dearly, which normally it happens against good teams and Poland are a good team. »

The task doesn’t get any easier for Scotland.

On Sunday, it’s a trip to Lisbon to take on Portugal, with Croatia the third big hitter in Scotland’s group.

But Clarke reckons the tricky fixtures are just part and parcel of being promoted to the Nation League’s top tier and insists there’s plenty of belief they can pick up points along the way.

He continued: « These games were always going to be tough.

« We worked ever so hard, it’s not so long ago we were in League C, we came through League B and we got to League A.

« We wanted to be here and test ourselves against the best. We showed in moments in the game that we can compete with the best but we have to eradicate those little mistakes.

« Moving forward, more tough games, it doesn’t get any tougher than going to Lisbon to play Portugal but we have to go there with a positive mindset.

« We have to try and grow what we’re trying to do. Like I say, short preparation before a Thursday game. We’ll recover, we’ll go again against a good Portuguese side and let’s see if we can improve again. »

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