Scotland can cope with pressure of must-win clash, says Mark McGhee

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Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee has backed the side to cope with pressure
Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee has backed the side to cope with pressure

Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee is adamant that Gordon Strachan and the players can handle the pressure of their must-win World Cup Qualifier against Slovenia.

Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada at Easter Road on Wednesday, with Strachan and McGhee aware their hopes of making the 2018 World Cup finals will in all probability rest on beating Slovenia at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The visitors are four points ahead of Scotland in second place in Group F following four out of 10 matches, and McGhee admits Sunday night's contest, live on Sky Sports 1HD, is "do or die".

Scotland have struggled in World Cup qualifying Group F so far
Scotland have struggled in World Cup qualifying Group F so far

"As far as qualification, I think it is, I think we have to win," the former Motherwell and Aberdeen manager said.

"I think all the games will be like that now, if we win on Sunday then we'll go into the England game and you'll ask me the same question. We know that, we can live with that.

"I think we've got big players in there who can handle that sort of pressure, certainly the manager can handle that sort of pressure. We look forward to the game."

Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw with Canada at Easter Road on Wednesday
Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw with Canada at Easter Road on Wednesday

Scotland drew with Lithuania in their only home match of the campaign so far and have since suffered 3-0 defeats in both Slovakia and England.

"We don't suffer when we've done well, thinking that it counts in the next game, McGhee added. "We know we have to take one game at a time, and it's the same with a bad result.

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan and his squad face a must-win clash against Slovenia on Sunday
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan and his squad face a must-win clash against Slovenia on Sunday

"We have a bad result, we move on and we are ready for the next game, and that's the way it is.

"The manager will pick players that are in a positive frame of mind. We will play in the present and not worry about what's happened in the past or what the consequences are for that in the future."

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Source : skysports[dot]com

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