Kenny McLean admits Scotland were 'desperate' for historic win as Hungary landed sucker-punch

Kenny McLean says Scotland had to go for the win against Hungary, but left themselves exposed in defence.

Kevin Csoboth took advantage of that 10 minutes into stoppage time, rattling in the goal that sent Scotland home early from Germany with just a point to their name.

Scotland had looked to make history by qualifying for the knock-out stages for the first time, but were denied in Stuttgart.

A controversial decision not to award a penalty when Stuart Armstrong appeared to be fouled by Willi Orban enraged the Scotland bench.

But while piling players forward, Steve Clarke’s side were left exposed, with Csoboth breaking the deadlock.

Norwich hero McLean, from Cambuslang, who came on as a late sub for Anthony Ralston in the 1-0 defeat, says Scotland maybe went too gung-ho in the closing stages, but they couldn’t have played for a draw.

McLean said: “I think the game was in the balance for the 90 minutes, really. You could see that one goal was going to be the difference.

“I think we just got a bit too desperate and committed a bit too many bodies forward, and left ourselves exposed at the back, which we didn’t fully have to do.

“We wanted the point, which now would have been better, but I think we would have left too much to chance, had we just played for a draw.

“Hindsight is obviously good, but I think at the time, to go for the result was obviously the right thing to do.

“We ended up throwing caution to the wind to try and win it, and we got caught late on. It’s difficult just now to put it into words, because it’s so raw. It’s just hurt and disappointment, really.”

McLean, 32, added:: “We knew we’d be clutching at straws a wee bit to go through with two points. Obviously there might have been an opportunity, but we would need four or five results elsewhere.

“I think going for it was the right thing to do, while it was in our own hands.

“We wanted to try and do all we could, but it just didn’t work out for us.

“Ultimately we committed too many bodies forward for the corner, they left people in dangerous positions to try and win it, and we should have switched on to that earlier.

“We just wanted to win so much and there was an element of desperation in the number of bodies we had in the box.

“We got one by one in the end. It was a game that was always going to be decided by one goal, and it went against us.”

McLean says nobody could have asked for more from the Scotland squad, but they fell short.

He said “We can pick the bones out of stuff we could have done better, but no-one can say we could have given more, because everyone on a day-to-day basis – even in the German game where we were below our standards – we continued to give everything.

“I think that’s why the backing from here and at home has been so incredible. They see guys who give everything, hopefully the fans have made memories for life.

“It was hard for the manager after the game. He tried to pick the boys up, but he was flat as well. There were some words spoken to try and help us, but they’ll stay inside with us.”

On the controversial penalty decision, McLean said: “I thought it was a clear foul on Stuart in the box, so much so I just assumed it was offside. It’s definitely a clear foul.”

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