Naisy: I don't think we've been in a better place

STEVEN NAISMITH reckons Scotland have learned the bitter lessons of Greece's Hampden raid.

- BY CRAIG SWAN

And Steve Clarke's assistant says the squad are in their best place to right that savage wrong and take a massive step towards the World Cup Finals.

Scotland begin their momentous Hampden doubleheader against the Greeks on Thursday before facing Belarus on Sunday.

Four points from the opener against Denmark and the Belarusians was a smart start.

But the toughness of the first task is laid bare in the fact the first visitors stormed Glasgow in March to win a Nations League crunch 3-0 four days after Clarke's side triumphed in Athens.

Naismith was in a TV pundit chair that night and getting the feeling as a fan. This time, he'll be at the heart of the battle in the home technical area.

Over six months have passed but it’s still fresh in the memory of Clarke's No.2.

And Naismith said: “It’s the small details in the game. At Hampden, we had good opportunities and good chances and then, maybe, positionally in small details in the game, cost you big.

“It shows you how quick a game can get away from you.

“The away result against Greece was excellent, coming home and the performance here wasn't good enough.

“But we've got a clear idea of what needs to be better, what we're really good at as a team and the confidence is really high.

“The squad dynamic here at the moment, I don't think we've been in a better place.