Scotland assistant manager Peter Houston offered a robust defence of the 4-6-0 formation used by Craig Levein in Friday's defeat by the Czech Republic claiming it was a "great strategy" which could be repeated in the future.
In a one-sided Euro 2012 qualifier in Prague, the visitors played without out-and-out strikers and eventually lost 1-0 to leave them with four points from three games ahead of the visit of world champions Spain on Tuesday night.
Despite widespread criticism of the formation which continued over the weekend, Houston was unrepentant, saying: "You have a duty to try and get something points-wise for the country."
Houston continued: "I agreed with Craig, I felt it was the right way to go about it, to hit them on the counter-attack.
"I had watched a couple of DVDs of the Czech Republic and I thought it was a great strategy to come up with. I thought we could counter-attack against them. I think Scotland as a nation are better at counter-attacking.
"I don't remember them cutting us open and getting shots on goal or having a lot of chances. I don't think Allan McGregor had to have the game of his life.
"We had one save from him in the first half and he had to make a great save in the second half. I think we played some good stuff and were unlucky to lose to a goal from a set play. Unfortunately, we couldn't score at the other end.
"The only regret we've got is that we've lost the game," the Dundee United manager continued.
"The players worked their socks off and almost achieved but that didn't happen.
"It's over and done with now, we can't look back, we've got to look forward and what a way to look forward - playing Spain at Hampden."
Source: PA
