Luis Binks has insisted the Scotland squad is firmly behind Sebastien Pocognoli and plans to show it by handing him his first win against North Macedonia. The new national boss is still looking for his opening victory after an opening day draw in Slovenia and Tuesday’s home defeat to Switzerland.
Binks, who was handed his debut against the Swiss, knows getting those first three points in the Nations League would take a lot of the early pressure off. The Belgian takes his Scotland side to the Nacionalna Arena Those Proeski in Skopje looking for that morale-boosting result.
Binks: 'We deserve a win'
Binks said: "We deserve a win, but it's up to us to go out there and get the win. We know it won't be easy, especially going there. It will probably be a bit hostile, but we know there will be a lot of Scots there as well. So like I say, everyone's looking really forward to it."
Pocognoli has made big changes to Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad. Binks is one of several new faces and warned it will take time. The Brondby player calmly stated: "It's my first taste of international football, but everything happens so quickly. You don't really get a lot of time with a team. I think it's hard to judge this early on, because it's different to club football. You're every day on the pitch. You know everyone. There's a lot of new boys, me included, coming in. So it takes time. This is another thing that will take time, but I'm sure we'll get to where we want to get to."
Red card impact
Binks also knows some perspective must be put on the Switzerland game, as they played 82 minutes with 10 men after Jack Hendry’s red card. He claimed: "I don't want to keep going on about it, but the red card does change things. That is a bump in the road, like you say. So it's hard to assess, but we've got a game in a couple of days. That's a chance for us to put it right and then the game at Hampden (against Slovenia) to really top it off with a win."
The ex-Coventry player is also adamant that the positivity hasn’t been damaged by the Swiss. Binks added: "Yes, for me personally, I can only speak for me at the minute. But I'm still positive. Like you say, a game like today against a very good side, going down to 10 men, it's hard to assess. I think there are some positives. We know where we can go with this group of players. It's very young, very hungry. There's a lot of players waiting to come in and play. The boys that played today, I think you just want to play more. Once you get a taste for it, you want to keep playing, keep playing. The manager's come in and it's been brilliant, so everyone's on board with that. It's early days, so we'll see in a few weeks."
Proud debut
Proud Binks admitted singing 'Flower of Scotland' and then making his international debut are two moments that will stick with him forever. Binks insisted: "It gives you goosebumps (hearing the national anthem). I think everyone heard how loud the fans were. It had been a long time since I sang that, since the Victory Shield, so maybe I was a bit rusty! But no, it was everything I imagined and more. It will stick with me forever. Personally, it's a very proud moment. Obviously something I've worked towards forever. So for me and my family it was a good night in some ways, but obviously the result is disappointing. We know they're (Switzerland) a good side and when you go down to ten men so early, it's always going to be difficult."
The centre half had previously played for Scotland at under-18 level, but had also represented England from under-16s to 19s. Binks qualifies for Scotland through his late grandfather who hailed from Dunbar. He admitted it was a bit night at Hampden for those closest to him. The defender admitted: "Yes, my family travelled up for it. I know my mum will be very emotional because obviously it's my grandad. Sadly, he's not here anymore, so that was another special moment for me and for her. But like I said, I'm over the moon. I know they'll be over the moon."
Binks plans to give his mother his shirt as a keep-sake of a special night for their family. He confirmed: "Yeah, my mum will have it. It'll be on the wall in the house, I think. Hopefully she keeps it safe."
The 25-year-old enjoyed his first taste of senior international football and felt he made a decent first impression in a dark blue jersey. He said: "Yeah, I feel I've coped with it well. I feel like I should be at this level. Obviously, when you come in, you're quiet and you're trying to find your feet. That's what I was trying to do. But I feel like I belong here and that's not me being big time. That's just me wanting to be at this level. I want to play many games for this country and go as far as I can with Scotland and in my club career. So yeah, it's a good night for me personally to make my debut, but hopefully it's the first of many caps."
Looking ahead to Saturday
His hopes of a dream debut turned into an early collective nightmare when fellow central defender Jack Hendry was sent off after eight minutes and Switzerland scored from the resultant free kick. "I think it's very difficult," Binks acknowledged. "We've just got to try and assess it as best we can. We tried not to give up, we tried to stick together, defend together. We tried to be as together as we could because obviously it was an uphill task from the eighth minute. So, it's difficult to assess, but we've got a game in a couple of days which we're all looking forward to because it's a chance to put it right."
Hendry apologised to his Scotland team mates for leaving them short-handed. Binks claimed: "Yeah, but we don't need an apology. Like I say, it could have been any of us and especially me as a defender I can sort of sympathise for him. It's not a nice feeling, but it is what it is. Yes, obviously (He was) disappointed. It's not nice. We've all been there and he's not going to be the last one to get sent off. But we know he's a good player and everyone is around him. So it is what it is. Now we look forward to Saturday."
Pocognoli and his staff have reviewed the Switzerland setback. Binks accepts there are plenty of things to work on the fact the goals were mainly conceded from set-plays. The Scotland new player claimed: "It was a bit of a sucker punch. I feel they had a lot of the ball but we started the game quite well. They weren't really hurting us, but they're a good side and it can change in one moment like we saw. Then for them to score from the free kick, it's another bit of a dig, but it is what it is. I think we stuck together quite well. They had a lot of the ball obviously, but they didn't really hurt us with big, big chances. Obviously, the three goals come from set pieces, so that's something to look at."
The good thing is that the result can’t fester too long as the Scotland players have the chance to put things right in North Macedonia on Saturday. Binks determined said: "Definitely, I think we showed good signs in the second half in Slovenia and, in the first few minutes, we tried to be high up the pitch. The red card kills it and then it's difficult for us to show what we can do on the ball because they have an extra man and they're a good side. I think we're all looking forward to Saturday now."
