STEVE Clarke last night insisted the Tartan Army are still behind his Scotland team despite their failure to secure a spot at the Euro 2020 finals next summer through qualifying.
But Clarke has admitted the national side will have to give their long-suffering supporters a performance and result to cheer soon to keep them onside.
Andy Robertson and his team mates lost their Group I matches to Russia last Friday night and Belgium on Monday to slip down to fifth in the table behind Kazakhstan and Cyprus.
They now have no chance of finishing runners-up in their section and making it through to their first major tournament since France ’98 automatically.
But Clarke, who was appointed back in May and has only taken charge of four games, denied the supporters had finally turned on his charges after another botched campaign.
Asked if he had sensed an apathy from the stands towards Scotland, he said: “I don’t think so. I didn’t feel that on Monday night. Obviously, I’m immersed in the game, but I thought the crowd were with us from the start, even at 1-0.
“We conceded a stupid goal at another set play. To lose a goal like that on the counter attack was not very good. After that, I thought the response from the team was decent. We kept trying to push, we kept trying to play and I felt the crowd were with us at that stage.
“In terms of apathy I have always said that if we show the fans something – and obviously it is very difficult for them to believe after a 4-0 loss at home – over the next four games they will be there in their numbers and will be right behind the team.”
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