Steve Clarke started planning for play-offs before Scotland hit back in Greece

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke admitted he was already planning for the World Cup play-offs before a remarkable turnaround kept his side in with a chance of top spot in Group C.

Scotland went three goals down in Greece in a game they went into knowing they would likely need to secure a point to keep themselves alive in the race for automatic qualification ahead of Tuesday’s Hampden clash with Denmark.

Clarke started planning to play the long game before goals began flying in both in Piraeus and Copenhagen.

Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie got Scotland back in the game and Belarus overturned a one-goal deficit against the Danes.

Scotland were suddenly playing for top spot ahead of Tuesday and had several excellent chances even before their hosts lost a man to a second yellow card.

In the end, a 3-2 defeat in Greece and a 2-2 draw in Denmark leaves the Scots with the chance to leapfrog the Danes at Hampden.

When asked if he was aware of proceedings in the Parken Stadium, Clarke said: “Only very late in the game, because when it went 3-0, I put some different instructions on to the pitch. I won’t tell you what, but it was more with play-offs in mind.

“Then suddenly we got to 3-1 and realised that the other game was the way it was. So those instructions were taken back and we tried our best to get something out of the game here.

“It was a crazy game, a crazy night. Conceded bad goals, scored good goals. Looked a threat any time we went forward. As did Greece. Both goalkeepers made big saves.

“Probably a great spectacle for the people watching, but not a good result.

“Really the cause of this problem is the long balls down the pitch. It’s something to look at and that’s hopefully just a one-off night because it’s not normally something that causes us too many problems.”

Clarke told his players they need to start games better after Craig Gordon conceded once and made a string of saves in the first half hour on the night the 42-year-old became the oldest European to play in a World Cup qualifier.

But he added: “I’ve said it repeatedly about this group of players, they give everything for their country. They didn’t give up.

“We got the goal back quite quickly to make it 3-1. When it goes 3-2, there’s only one team that’s going to get the next goal, in my opinion, and that’s us.

“Their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save from Scott McTominay. How that didn’t go in, I’ll never know.

“I’m pleased that the players have still got the opportunity to go directly to the World Cup on Tuesday night. I’m pleased because they deserve it. They’ve had a good qualifying campaign up until now.

“I’ve got a mix of emotions in my head just now.”

A dramatic script threatened to get surreal when Gordon went up for a late corner, before being sent back by Clarke.

“I’ve never been a coach who’s encouraged goalkeepers to go forward,” he said. “I’d rather another outfield (player go up). I didn’t see the need.”