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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Steve Clarke on Georgia dressing room call off plea during Scotland downpour as boss quips 'we got there in the end'

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has opened up on the behind the scenes talks with Georgia - with the players wanting the Euro 2024 qualifier called off.

It was torrid conditions at Hampden but despite the heavy rain Callum McGregor would give the hosts the lead inside the opening 10 minutes - before the game was brought to an abrupt halt by referee Istan Vad. Play was suspended for an incredible 100-minutes following torrential rain - as the Georgia players refused to leave the dressing room amid crunch talks with the UEFA delegate.

However, the action would eventually restart and Scott McTominay's second half strike rewarded the patience of the Tartan Army that had patiently waited inside the national stadium. The result secures history for Clarke as Scotland won their first four group games for the first time to consolidate their position at the top of Group A.

Quizzed on what happened in the tunnel, the Scotland boss told Viaplay: "I think the Georgian boys were just looking at the way the pitch was at the start of the game and were thinking it was still the same. One of the times both teams came out the tunnel and you could see it was pouring again.

"On the back of that they are thinking the pitch won't be any better. The pitch actually did start to drain. Big mention for the volunteers sweeping out there and doing everything they can to get the game on. The Georgian players come out and do the warm up and know the pitch is fine. We got there in the end."

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