Kenny McLean admits Scotland deserved nothing from their World Cup qualifier in Denmark but must now take maximum points from a "must-win" game with Moldova at Hampden on Saturday.
A haphazard first half from the Scots in Copenhagen proved costly, as a reshuffled squad hampered by injury and Covid issues went with skipper Andy Robertson in an unorthodox right-wing back role.
The absence of Wishaw ace and Motherwell skipper Stephen O'Donnell and Rangers' Nathan Patterson forced boss Steve Clarke into a rethink on his game plan and post-match he admitted it was an experiment that didn't pay off.
It was all change at half-time, but by then the damage was done with the Danes already 2-0 up, thanks to a 92 second blitz in the first half that delivered goals for Daniel Wass and Joakim Maehle.
Scotland slipped to fourth in Group F leaders Denmark, Austria and Israel.
Cambuslang star McLean admits it simply wasn't good enough and they must now deliver in front of a home crowd against Moldova on Saturday night.
The Norwich City midfielder said: "It was a tough match, of course, and we knew it was going to be but we made it a bit too easy for them in the first half.
"We allowed them to play, their confidence grew, the fans got on their side and we conceded two goals.
"It was also going to be tough conceding them so close together.
"We really shot ourselves in the foot with the second one, especially, and it was a real uphill task from there.
"Second half we came out and showed a bit more, but the first half killed us.
"In the middle of the park we didn't lay a glove on them.
"We had to show a bit of character in the second half to create chances, and we did at times.
"Ryan [Christie] had one, but it wasn't to be.
"After the first half, we didn't really deserve much from the game.
"A few boys will come back to us and we'll get ready for Moldova because it's a must-win game.
"We need to go and get something, but we need to recover and put things right on Saturday."
Following the visit of Moldova, Scotland then travel to Austria on Tuesday.
Fellow Cambuslang man Kevin Nisbet is expected to be back in the squad, while O'Donnell will be available again.
Arsenal ace and Muirhouse man Kieran Tierney, Celtic midfielder and Wishaw man David Turnbull, who came on as a substitute in Denmark, and Aberdeen defender Declan Gallagher, who hails from Blantyre, are also in the squad.
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