Scots can handle the pressure

Coach Pressley feeling confident

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CONFIDENT: Scotland coach Steven Pressley.

SCOTLAND coach Steven Pressley is hoping lightning will strike twice in Reykjavik tonight.

The former Rangers and Celtic defender knows all about travelling to Iceland under intense pressure.

He was part of the Scottish side that needed a win against the North Atlantic minnows after a nightmare start to a qualifying campaign.

That was for Euro 2004, and they won 2-0.

Now with mounting pressure on manager George Burley, Pressley, pictured, is hoping for a repeat performance.

He said: “The game in Iceland really sticks in my mind because it is reminiscent of the situation we find ourselves in now.

“Scotland had suffered a nightmare result in the Faroe Islands and there was a lot of pressure on us going into the game in Iceland.

“That side had players like Eidur Gudjohnsen, who will also play tonight, and we had to get a result.

“Thankfully, we bounced back with a good win in Reykjavik and hopefully we can do the same again.

“Losing in Macedonia puts extra pressure on us to win tonight, everyone in the squad is well aware of that, but we are confident of getting a win.”

The Scotland squad jetted into the North Atlantic island just 30 hours before kick-off and had time for just two light training sessions.

Pressley, Burley and Terry Butcher took the 25-strong squad through their paces in the compact 10,500 capacity Laugardalsvollur Stadium on the outskirts of Reykjavik.

And Pressley insists his squad are ready for the phyisical challenge, just days after the punishing 100F degree heat of Macedonia.

“We were disappointed with the Macedonia result but looked over the footage and there are many aspects that we can take positives from,” he said.

“The tape proved that certain aspects of our game we had been working on were going right.

“Full credit must also go to our medical team because temperatures were soaring in Macedonia, but it was us who were stronger as the game went on which is encouraging.

“The lads are fit and sharp, so we are ready.”