'It's still open': Steve Clarke says Nations League play-off tie isn't over despite Scotland win in Greece

Scotland boss Steve Clarke insisted the Nations League play-off against Greece is far from over despite his side battling to a 1-0 first leg win.

Scott McTominay netted a first-half penalty in Athens and Scotland dominated the first half but Greece put in a determined performance in the second half and put the visitors under pressure for long spells.

Scotland held on for a victory that gives them a slender advantage ahead of Sunday’s return match at Hampden, where they now know a draw will be enough for them to keep their top-tier status in UEFA’s competition.

Clarke was pleased with his side’s attacking intent in the first half, and their resolute defending after the break, but pointed to Greece’s talent and recent results to insist that there’s still work to be done.

“Game on,” he said. “It is still open.

“I don’t see the game as being closed at all.

“I thought the Greeks were good in the second half. Their away record is good in the group stages.

“They went to Ireland and won comfortably, they went to Finland and won comfortably and they went to Wembley and won, so the game is still wide open.”

He added: “I thought first half we were excellent, we played the ball around really well, created some good chances, could maybe have been further in front at half-time.

“To be fair to the Greeks they came out the second half and got about us and stopped us playing.

“We started to go too long and didn’t get hold of the ball as we did in the first half and then you are asked to defend and we defended quite well in the box.

“It felt like a lot of pressure because of the free-kicks into the box but (goalkeeper) Craig Gordon didn’t have too many saves to make in the second half, so credit to the team defensively.

“I love a good defensive display, it’s how you get results. But a lot to like in the first half.”