David Clarkson: Scotland debut will help my Motherwell career

Aug 10 2008

DAVID CLARKSON admitted his sensational Scotland start in May helped him get the new season off to a flier.

But despite another sizzling show in front of Scotland coach George Burley, the Motherwell star still left Tynecastle gutted yesterday.

The striker, wearing the No.10 shirt always associated with his uncle Phil O'Donnell who died last season, ended last term with a debut strike against the Czech Republic.

And he kicked off the new campaign with a double in a five-goal thriller - but was still on the losing side. Clarkson said: "That goal against the Czechs gave me more belief in myself.

"It gave me a high I carried in to the summer and right through to the start of the season.

"And obviously it's great to get off to a scoring SPL start. All I can do is score for the club, first and foremost.

"But if I play as well as I can and if the Scotland manager's watching then that's a bonus.

"But despite all that it still feels like a kick in the teeth to have lost the game."

Clarkson's still upbeat though. A hole has been left by the departure of Ross McCormack but he insists the team yesterday is still capable of matching last year's feats.

He said: "The fact we've not really seen any new faces is not a negative.

"We put in a good performance, kept a lot of good possession and were unlucky not to get a point."

Boss Mark McGhee also believes the current side can do him a turn but sighed: "The result was right. The first two goals we lost came from poor defending and that is a worry for us.

"I complained last season about the defending and never made it a secret that I was looking to add someone.

"But I still don't think the lack of new bodies has hindered us.

"Our performance was okay and we played the way we set out to."

MATCH STATS

Shots on 6

Shots off 4

Fouls 14

Offside 1

Corners 1

Breakings 2

Shots on 2

Shots off 4

Fouls 14

Offside 1

Corners 1

Breakings 2

REF MATCH

IAIN BRINES was often inconsistent - booking Ksanavicius for a dive but letting Clarkson off with one - but it was still far from the worst showing you'll see. Rating: 6/10.