Blaming the formation just an easy way out, says Scott McKenna
The Aberdeen defender says they should be good enough in any shape
Scotland defender Scott McKenna claims they should be good enough to perform in any formation.
And blaming Alex McLeish's 3-5-2 system for the poor performance in Israel would be an easy way out.
McLeish's tactics - designed in order to fit left-backs Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson into the same team - came under criticism after the 2-1 Nations League defeat in Haifa last Thursday.
Scotland looked more comfortable with a flat back four despite losing 3-1 at home to Portugal on Sunday, but their best performance by far under McLeish came with a back three against Albania last month.
And McKenna, who came on at half-time in Israel in the three-man defence, said: I think that's maybe just an easy excuse. We should be good enough in both (formations).
"Nobody was moaning when we played a three and got that win against Hungary and we have played it a couple of times since. We should be getting used to it.
"I don't think that was the problem the other night, I think we probably just sat too deep.
"A four is probably more comfortable for me because I have played it a lot more at Aberdeen, but blaming the formation is just an easy way out.''
McKenna saw encouraging signs against Portugal ahead of next month's defining double header against Albania and Israel.
The 21-year-old, who admitted he should have equalised with a second-half header, added: "The way we moved the ball about, we were brave on the ball and played through the lines and caused them some problems. That's something we have to take into the next couple of games.'