Even the most optimistic member of the Tartan Army flying home from Slovakia on Tuesday evening would struggle to find the consolation in the abject performance that had left Scotland’s World Cup qualification hopes in serious peril some hours before.
And the thought of following this group of Scotland players under the same management team to Wembley next month to face the Auld Enemy, who may be stuttering themselves but still possess talents way beyond what can be mustered north of the border, would be enough to arouse sobriety in even the most inebriated foot-soldier.
But there is at least one man who was in Trnava that still feels as if Scotland have a chance not only of upsetting the odds with a win over England in their own back yard, but that the national side can still gatecrash the party in Russia in 2018 – Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee.
Now, McGhee may be on the SFA payroll – for now at least – but speaking to him yesterday, his optimism felt genuine rather than blind. We will learn which of those adjectives best describes his faith in due course.
“I’m disappointed with the outcome but I am optimistic that there is still an opportunity that the table can turn,” McGhee said.
“The squad is very tight and it’s a bonus to us that there have been draws elsewhere and that has kept us right in it. It’s still all to play for and that’s the important thing.
“I know we have to do better than we did the other night but I am convinced we have a group of players that can.
“The England game is a fantastic game to be part of. We are three points behind them but who knows? There is a performance within the squad that we can go there and get a result.
“Don’t get me wrong, we are not dismissing those two games, but the fact we are still in it is a bonus and something you think about afterwards. The upside is, that we are still in it.”
Another area where Gordon Strachan has come in for criticism is for his approach and demeanour when facing the press. Not because we in the media are particularly sensitive souls, and the general public no doubt have little sympathy in any case, but because his pithy responses and defence of his players at all costs have brought upon him accusations of insulting the intelligence of supporters.
McGhee understands though that there is a need to protect players from the flak flying around after results like the ones Scotland have just endured, and he provided an assurance that the manager was well able to give it to his players straight, even if he can’t afford the public the same privilege.
“We all do that,” McGhee said. “But Gordon is not soft. He can make decisions and front things up. “He’s a man in that respect. He will talk to the players with respect. He knows they are not club players and not ours, but he is prepared to dig them out.
“But publicly, like every manager, you want to stand by your players. They are like your children. No matter how badly you think your child is, you don’t want anyone else saying it. You would get offended if someone told you how bad your child is, it’s a bit like that in that you want to protect your players from criticism. Gordon has always taken than view.”
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