IT'S NOT PRETTY BUT IT IS JOB DONE

Clarke's record 72nd game a win... just

- BY SCOTT BURNS

IT was not pleasing on the eye, but Scotland saw off Belarus at Hampden last night to help Steve Clarke celebrate making history as the manager to lead the country in the greatest number of international matches.

The laboured 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over a side ranked 100th in the world - 57 spots lower than Scotland - took Clarke past the late Craig Brown's mark by managing the team for a 72nd time.

It also completed a successful double header following Thursday's 3-1 defeat of Greece.

While not too many fans inside the national stadium yesterday will be particularly happy with the style of play on show, the victory kept Scotland on track to end the nation’s long wait for a World Cup finals spot since France 98.

And Clarke - who now has 32 victories and 24 defeats for a 44.44% win ratio - will be keen to match Brown's achievement by fulfilling that dream at next summer's finals.

It was a hard watch and at times nerve-shredding, but Clarke's team eventually saw off Belarus thanks to goals from Serie A stars Che Adams and Scott McTominay.