David Marshall hoping history repeats itself for Scotland at Wembley

09 November 2016 07:38

David Marshall hopes Scotland are going to play like it is 1999 when they travel to London for Friday's World Cup qualifier against England.

In the last competitive fixture between the teams, in the Euro 2000 qualifying play-offs, Don Hutchison's goal gave Scotland an unlikely 1-0 win at Wembley, albeit they went out on aggregate after losing the first game 2-0 at Hampden Park.

The Scots are underdogs again as they were on November 17, 1999 but Hull keeper Marshall is hoping history can repeat itself as Gordon Strachan's side look to get their qualification campaign back on track after taking just four points from their first three games.

He said: "The first leg was at Hampden and I think everybody wrote that off as being done after that.

"Obviously England had a two-goal lead and probably expected to go through and took the foot off the gas a bit.

"We went 1-0 up then it was a shaky last 10-15 minutes as I can remember so hopefully we can get a similar result this time.

"It's a different set of players, different time and a different game but we can look at any little bit of inspiration and take advantage of it."

A 1-1 draw at home to Lithuania at Hampden Park and a 3-0 defeat in Slovakia last month left Scotland in fourth place in Group F with pressure on to find a positive result at Wembley.

Marshall, however, insists the squad - which was bolstered on Tuesday by the inclusion of Charlie Mulgrew - remains upbeat with morale still high.

The former Celtic and Cardiff player said: "The boys get on great, it's a great camp. We've been together for a few years, we've settled as a squad so there's that consistency.

"Obviously in terms of results, especially the last one away to Slovakia, it was a poor result and a poor performance but we know need to take confidence and look to go and get a positive result on Friday.

"Boys are doing well at club level and it's the best squad that the Scottish team have so that's where the confidence comes from."

Marshall believes the return of Hull team-mate Robert Snodgrass, back after an ankle injury that originally looked to have ruled him out, is a huge boost for the squad.

The 29-year-old midfielder came on for Hull as a first-half substitute and scored the equaliser before setting up the winner in a 2-1 Premier League victory against Southampton at the weekend.

He said: "Talking about confidence, Robert will be flying now with a goal and an assist.

"To have someone of that quality and who's playing well at the moment would be great for us."

Source: PA