Sebastien Pocognoli: 'We need a good result to give staff and players a boost'

Sebastien Pocognoli is still looking for his first victory as Scotland boss after no wins in his opening two games.

Scotland shared the points in goalless draw away to Slovenia on Saturday before a damaging 3-0 defeat to Switzerland at Hampden days later.

The midweek defeat means Scotland have now gone four games without a goal for the first time since 1971.

An 11th-minute red card for Jack Hendry led to the free-kick opener from Ricardo Rodriguez and left Pocognoli facing a difficult home debut as Scotland’s head coach.

World Cup quarter-finalists Switzerland made their numerical advantage count.

The team now faces North Macedonia in Skopje on Saturday before welcoming Slovenia to Hampden on Tuesday.

Pocognoli has said a result will bring a much-needed boost to the staff and players after a disappointing few games.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match, he said: “It’s important to have a result because it can give a boost to the staff. Not only for me, but for all the people who work so hard from the first day, and they work so well, to give something because the result is the vitamin of the effort. Also for the players.

“But we had a good second half in Slovenia, eight minutes that we can analyse and some good aspects, but we need also a good performance in North Macedonia and the result is important.”