Scotland defender Russell Martin has backed Craig Levein and the side to improve

Russell Martin: Backing Scotland to improve

Scotland defender Russell Martin insists they have enough quality in their ranks to improve their ailing fortunes.

Craig Levein's side are the only country in Group A yet to register a victory in qualification, with their recent defeats to Wales and Belgium leaving them bottom.

But Norwich defender Martin is convinced they will come good and he has backed under-fire national boss Levein.

"It is so hard for any international manager when you only get the lads together three or four times a year. The guys really like him and the staff, they are all really good people," he said.

"It is just the results which have not gone the way everyone wanted but whatever happens, the boys are 100% behind the manager.

"It could have been so different and that is what is so hard in football. In Wales, we were 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go and they have one guy (Gareth Bale) who can make a difference and he did when scoring a goal from 30 yards.

"If we had got a result there, then we would have gone into Tuesday's game (against Belgium) with not such a big a problem.

"It is a similar thing to what is happening back at Norwich - it is frustration because you know you have all the ingredients and it is just not happening. Hopefully the manager is given time for it to get better."

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