Steve Clarke weighs in on the’shenanigans’ in Georgia, while Scotland players are praised for keeping their cool

Scotland gamers praised for maintaining their heads after late draw in Georgia

Scotland manager Steve Clarke reacts for the duration of the 2-2 draw with Georgia in Tiblisi. (Photo by using Levan Verdzeuli/Getty Images)

Scotland manager Steve Clarke praised his side for maintaining their cool and the use of Georgia’s time-wasting “shenanigans” to their gain after Lawrence Shankland headed a stoppage-time equaliser in Tbilisi.

Georgia twice took the lead via the surprising Napoli attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, however late call-up Shankland earned Scotland a 2-2 draw when he headed home fellow substitute Stuart Armstrong’s go two minutes into brought time.

Despite Scotland having already sealed their Euro 2024 place and Georgia understanding they face a play-off in March, there was a real competitive area to the game, with three yellow cards for each team and a melee in each half.

Clarke felt his side reacted properly to some prolonged stoppages for therapy to domestic gamers and took gain of the eight minutes added on.

Clarke said: “That’s one of the challenges when you come here, you be aware of they will do the whole lot they can to get a nice result.

“You have to react to that. We have to make positive we manipulate ourselves and don’t get involved, don’t encourage any type of shenanigans.

“We simply kept going, kept plugging away, we knew there was going to be extra time due to the fact now they have a higher manage on time wasted, and it was once fantastic to rating in harm time.”

Shankland was once dropped from the squad closing month however responded by way of hitting five dreams in his closing 5 games for Hearts. And the striker seized the threat presented through Che Adams’ withdrawal.

Clarke said: “When you are going into the last 10 minutes, and knowing we would get a lot of injury time because Georgia spent a lot of time on the floor, we knew there was time left.

“We wanted a intention and you recognize Lawrence has usually obtained a danger of getting a goal. I am delighted for Lawrence and delighted for the group as well.”

Scott McTominay had earlier netted in the forty ninth minute as Scotland multiplied after a slack first half. The late goal ended a run of three defeats and a losing run in Tbilisi.

“If you can’t win the game, don’t lose,” Clarke said. “We did that and confirmed excellent personality to come from in the back of twice right here in a challenging place.

“Georgia are a exact crew with one brilliant participant in Kvaratskhelia. He obtained two exceptional dreams and made it difficult for our defenders.

“Overall we got loads of shots on goal, we ought to have been a little bit greater clinical, solely 5 on target with the sixteen or 17 photographs we had. But we showed resilience and it used to be vital no longer to lose.

“We knew coming here would be tough. Scotland had been right here twice earlier than and didn’t score, misplaced each games. So we knew it would be a tough game.

“We wanted to come right here and hopefully get lower back to winning ways, however we have damaged that run of defeats and we will appear to construct on that in the Norway sport on Sunday. We will look to end with a good performance and a domestic win.”

Georgia head train Willy Sagnol felt some of his players’ lack of game time confirmed as Scotland dominated after the hour mark.

Sagnol said: “I used to be very glad with the first hour, we did precisely what we desired to do with and without the ball.

“The trouble is, we have a lot of gifted players, but they don’t usually play with their clubs. They sometimes play 15-20 minutes. At some point tiredness will come because they are no longer used to taking part in 90 minutes.

“We lost a bit with the modifications and it’s frustrating to lose a aim in greater time. But Scotland didn’t steal the point, they played a suitable match.”