Sheffield Wednesday: Liam Palmer earns second international cap as Scotland slump to heavy Russia defeat

Liam Palmer's hopes of competing in Euro 2020 are hanging by a thread after Scotland's miserable defeat to Russia.
By Dom Howson
Published 11th Oct 2019, 09:07 BST
Updated 11th Oct 2019, 18:59 BST
Owls defender Liam Palmer earned his second Scotland cap against RussiaOwls defender Liam Palmer earned his second Scotland cap against Russia
Owls defender Liam Palmer earned his second Scotland cap against Russia

The Sheffield Wednesday defender was handed his second international cap in Moscow as Steve Clarke's side slumped to a 4-0 loss on Thursday night, conceding four goals in 27 second-half minutes.

The 28-year-old lined up at right-back and helped the Scots contain Russia for almost an hour but they crumbled after Artem Dzyuba's opener from a corner.

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The result keeps Clarke's men remain fifth in Group I - below Cyprus and Kazakhstan - and extinguished their hopes of automatic qualification with three group fixtures remaining.

However, the Scots can still qualify for their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France via the Euro 2020 play-offs, which get under way in March. The Scots earned the chance to progress by winning their Nations League group last year.

Clarke, who overlooked Wednesday pair Barry Bannan and Steven Fletcher, has presided over four defeats with the loss of 13 goals since replacing Alex McLeish

The former Kilmarnock chief said: "In all the games we've played, there have been moments where you can see what we're trying to do and where we're trying to get to," Clarke said. "But the results are dreadful, no getting away from that. I'm not going to hide behind that.

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"On the back of back-to-back 4-0 defeats, it feels difficult. But I was brought up the hard way so I'm in for the fight and I think the players are in for the fight too."

Scotland return to action on Sunday when they entertain minnows San Marino before rounding off their miserable campaign against Cyprus and Kazakhstan next month.

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Related topics:Steve ClarkeScotlandRussiaLiam PalmerBarry BannanCyprus

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