ALARM BELS!

Clarke baffled as side stutter way to a win over minnows

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

STEVE CLARKE admitted Scotland produced one of their worst displays of his 72-game reign to scrape past Belarus.

But he's backed his squad to hit top form again in time for a November doubleheader which will decide their World Cup finals fate.

Clarke's side got lucky against the Group C minnows at Hampden to scramble a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Che Adams and Scott McTominay - and Denmark's 3-1 win over Greece then ensured the Scots have at least a playoff spot secured.

But, while the Tartan Army jeered at full-time, Clarke says he was baffled by the below-par display, accusing the players of failing to turn up while also dismissing any suggestions they were suffering from nerves amid a vital qualifying clash.

Clarke might have surpassed the late Craig Brown's record for games as Scotland manager, but he couldn't hide his emotions at full-time.

He said: "I'm really disappointed. It's possibly as disappointed as I've been over the whole 72 games.

"We just didn't turn up. The performance was way below par and it's a head-scratcher.

"There have been many times when I've said how good they are. And they are. That doesn't change.