Source: Team_Talk
Ally: Blaming Burley is red herring
The former Scotland striker always had faith in his nation's ability to compete against the best in the world and that belief was reinforced when he took his seat alongside the Tartan Army at Hampden and watched Burley's men match the might of Holland.
But McCoist - previously part of Walter Smith's backroom staff with Scotland - is equally aware of a perennial inability to dispose of more mediocre opposition and insists that is the reason why an exile from major tournaments will now stretch to at least 14 years.
The 1-0 defeat to the Dutch may have officially ended hopes of qualifying for the World Cup but Scotland will look back on the Group Nine opener in Macedonia and home and away against Norway as the matches where the irreparable damage was done.
"I just think we need to be a little more consistent in our performances more than anything," McCoist said.
"Wednesday night was as good a performance as I've seen from Scotland in a long time.
"I was really encouraged and all the fans around me were really positive and encouraged by the performance.
"If we can compete like that against the third best team in the world, we can compete like that against anybody.
"If anything, the problem from our point of view has been the other results in games we should have picked up points from.
"But that has been a problem for Scotland, not just in this campaign but in lots of campaigns. We tend to shoot ourselves in the foot against opposition you think you should do better against."
Asked how that can change, McCoist admitted: "I don't know. It's just Scotland to be brutally honest. It's just us, it's just what we do.
"We are still producing talent, there is no doubt about that. We just need to get a better level of consistency.
"It's common knowledge that we don't have a Kenny Dalglish or a Graeme Souness but when you look at the boys who came in, the talent is there, it's definitely there.
"But we just have to perform a little more consistently against the teams we should be doing better against."
It was almost a year ago that Rangers striker Kris Boyd informed the Scottish Football Association he no longer wished to be considered for international selection while Burley remained in charge.
But, after watching Kenny Miller, Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney pass up opportunities to claim a priceless goal against the Dutch, McCoist refused to be drawn on whether Boyd's inclusion would have made a difference to Scotland's qualification hopes.
"I've no idea, I don't have a crystal ball in front of me," said the Ibrox assistant boss.
"What we've got is a squad of lads up front who work their socks off for each other and who will score their fair share of goals.
"Those are the facts. You have to play with the cards you are dealt and that's what we did.
"We had chances to score and Holland also missed some chances before taking the one late on when the game opened up a bit.
"You have to take your chances to win games and we didn't do that last night and that was the big disappointment. But I'm very encouraged by the way they performed."
McCoist was also encouraged by the efforts of David Weir, who was recalled for the double-header against Macedonia and Holland after being omitted from the squad for last month's 4-0 defeat in Norway.
And he insists the Rangers defender still has plenty to offer the national team, even though he will be 40 by the time Scotland play their next competitive match.
"He was terrific on Saturday and him and big Mick [Stephen McManus] at the back were great again on Wednesday night," McCoist said.
"The tactical move, which George probably had to make to try to win the game, when Paul Hartley came off, left them a little bit more vulnerable and unfortunately that was the case with the goal.
"But of course Davie can continue. He has been terrific for us and he has had a couple of good internationals as well."
G Burley Scotland manager for 1st Euro 2012 qualifier Win Specials: Yes 5/4
