Scotland need to ‘do an Ireland’ if they are to get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track, according to James McArthur.
The horror show in Slovakia has left the Scots requiring a mammoth effort to revive their hopes of making it to Russia.
Current form does not give much optimism for optimism, with Tuesday’s dismal 3-0 defeat in Trnava coming just three days after two crucial points were dropped in the 1-1 draw against Group F fifth seeds Lithuania at Hampden Park.
Although seven qualifying matches remain, the fact Scotland are still to face top seeds England and on-form Slovenia both home and away makes this week’s five dropped points appear all the more costly.
One man who is up for the challenge though is midfielder James McArthur, who knows Scotland must now defy if they are to get back on track to reach their first major tournament since 1998.
But their own recent experiences of the Euro 2016 qualifiers tells them that it can be done.
The Crystal Palace man takes inspiration from a Republic of Ireland side which made it through the play-offs from Scotland’s group last year, despite the Scots being two points clear of Martin O’Neill’s men, who they took four points out of six from, with four games to play.
Now it is Scotland’s turn to try and pull off the unexpected.
McArthur said: “We know we are going to need to produce something special – a big result – to get us back on track.
“Look at Ireland in the previous group for Euro 2016, where they had a relatively bad start and then produced two massive results and qualified.
“We need to stay positive. I know it is hard right now after we have just lost and we still have an opportunity to put things right.
“It is going to be tough and we need to produce something special to upset the applecart and to get us back in it. After what I would call not a great start the table is still very tight.”
While Strachan comes under increasing pressure following the collapse in form, the manager’s cause was helped little by yet another poor defensive performance, with his side having now kept just one clean sheet – against lowly Gibraltar – in Scotland’s last nine competitive games.
McArthur remains fully behind his manager and felt Tuesday’s scoreline was harsh on his side, with the 29-year-old adding: “He is definitely the man to take us forward. His game plan against Slovakia worked and sloppy goals cost us.
“They were the be all and end all. We controlled long spells of the game and we had opportunities and that was down to the manager’s game plan.
“I didn’t think there was too much between Slovakia and ourselves but they took their chances and that has been the decisive factor.
“It is a disappointing result and personally I didn’t think it was a 3-0 game. It is a tough place to go to but we have left with this feeling of disappointment.”
