Football Club Buzz

04/09/2011 14:04, Report by Adam Bostock

Darren Fletcher is determined to bounce back quickly after a kick in the teeth for his Scotland side in Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Czech Republic.

The midfielder’s first senior start since United’s closing league win over Blackpool on 22 May was all set to end in triumph when, in the 83rd minute, he personally put the Scots 2-1 up from a pass by Kenny Miller – the same player Fletcher had created the first goal for just before half-time. The landmark appearance didn’t quite end in tears either, although the Czechs equalising with a controversial injury-time penalty has left Scotland five points behind them in the race for a play-off place in Group I.

“It will take a big ask but while it’s still mathematically possible, we’ve got to keep fighting,” said Fletcher, assessing Scotland’s chances of reaching next summer’s European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Turning to the circumstances in which Czech Republic snatched the damaging 2-2 draw, the Scotland skipper admitted: “Players are disappointed and angry. You work all week and then you put that effort into the game and for it to be decided by refereeing decisions in the last minute is bitterly disappointing. You can maybe forgive one wrong decision but when you get two decisions wrong, it’s hard to take.”

The other decision referred to by Fletcher was the rejection of a penalty appeal for Scotland immediately after the Czechs had levelled from the spot. But while Darren tried, as skipper, to talk to the Dutch referee Kevin Blom at the end – “he blatantly blanked me and told me to go away” – he knows Scotland have precious little time to dwell on the

Source : ManUtd News

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