ANALYSIS: One victory in 13 matches… it’s beginning to feel that cursed Clarke just can’t stop the rot for Scots, writes John McGarry

Since succeeding Alex McLeish as Scotland manager five years ago, Steve Clarke has led the team against more illustrious opponents than Poland and on far more important occasions.

In the context of the past year and, more pertinently, the crushing disappointment of the European Championships, however, this felt hugely significant to him. Perhaps even definitive.

With one win in twelve games to his name, against the mighty Gibraltar, it was clear that his value was beginning to decline before his team left for Germany.

As this dismal streak continues with yet another loss, it’s fair to wonder if there will ever be a glimmer of light at the end of this long tunnel.

No matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop the rot.

Let’s face it: Scotland had a right to feel a little disadvantaged.

They were two goals down at half-time, but Clarke’s team rolled up their sleeves and showed us what they were capable of.

They played for 45 minutes with an aggression and conviction rarely seen at the European Championships.

The final phase, which saw Ben Doak and Ryan Gauld released with delay, was encouraging, as a two-goal deficit was erased and it looked like there would be only one winner.

Then, as in recent times, things went terribly wrong. Deep into injury time, John McGinn gave the ball back and Grant Hanley’s rash foul allowed Nicola Zalewski to take the points with a penalty.

It may have been tough on Scotland and their beleaguered manager, but hard luck stories can’t break the terrible cycle the team now finds themselves in.

Clarke is starting to look cursed.

Despite all the improvements in the second half, the game in the first half was inconsistent and full of mistakes.

Scotland’s speciality is making mistakes at key moments and the manager now seems powerless to change that.

Clarke has reached the top by leading the team to consecutive European Championships, securing his place in the history of the national team.

You do wonder though if we will ever recapture those heights under him. The side has lost its swagger and its mojo.

That memorable win against Spain feels like an awfully long time ago now. You have to go back almost a year for the last competitive win against Cyprus.

Although the team played well enough here in phases against a decent opponent, and came back from the canvas after being two points down at half-time, they were ultimately found wanting. And it is going to be a tiring story.

With Portugal scheduled to play in Lisbon this weekend and Croatia next month, there are fears that the wait for a major victory will continue for some time yet.

Clarke desperately needs something to come his way quickly to restore confidence in him. Maybe it will come when we least expect it.

But regardless of the calibre of the opponent, all managers stand or fall by results.

Before this match, he had said that the team’s development would be a case of “evolution, not revolution.” He wasn’t joking.

Seven of the players who started that fateful night in Stuttgart against Hungary started here and that number would surely have been higher had Callum McGregor not retired and Che Adams not withdrawn through injury. That initially meant no place for Doak or Gauld.

It went against all the talk about welcoming the ‘freshness’ of new faces. It was not what the Tartan Army wanted to see.

No harm to people like Anthony Ralston, Kenny McLean or Hanley. But their qualities at this level are no state secret.

What was noticeable was the change of system. Clarke stuck with his back three position in the summer — even when Kieran Tierney was injured — and switched it to the old 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree here.

That saw Ralston and Andy Robertson deployed in the familiar full-back roles they fill for their clubs. More square pegs in square holes.

It was a strange old night. The Nations League has been hugely valuable to Scotland in the past, opening the back door to Euro 2020, but it didn’t feel like many at Hampden were brimming with anticipation.

Although we had 10 weeks to process what had happened in Germany, there was still some disappointment.

How could it be otherwise, if the manager refused to meaningfully reflect on the many shortcomings?

Wild horses had failed to convince Clarke that it was necessary to publicly address the herd of elephants in the room, given how terribly things were going wrong in Germany.

His announcement of the squad last week was an awkward affair, his admission that the team was ‘not creative enough’ about as introspective as it gets.

Everyone wanted to hear that he had done it wrong and that he would do it a little differently, but he couldn’t get them out of his mouth.

Last night he was no more elaborate in his programme notes; his brief reflections on the campaign were an exercise in stating the obvious.

“We can safely say that we were disappointed with the way our participation in Euro 2024 went this summer,” he wrote.

To be honest, the Tartan Army deserved better.

Although the tickets had already been sold before the European Championship, the turnout here was enormous.

The ending was reminiscent of the loss to Hungary — a mistake, a breakout and more heartbreak. It’s becoming a feeling this manager can’t shake.