SCOTLAND defender Christophe Berra insists the finger of blame should not be pointed at boss Craig Levein following their World Cup qualifying defeat to Wales.

The manager has found himself under even more pressure in the wake of the 2-1 loss in Cardiff, which leaves the Scots secondbottom of Group A.

But Berra believes the players should shoulder the responsibility for not snuffing out the threat of a Wales side who snatched victory thanks to a late double from Gareth Bale.

Asked if the players still back Levein, the Wolves defender said: “It’s got nothing to do with the manager – we are the ones who go out on the pitch.

“We played well, we just maybe ran out of steam a bit. A penalty and a 25-yard strike lost us the game.

“At top-level football, it’s the flip of a coin sometimes.

We didn’t have the luck.

“It’s a game we should have won comfortably. Our chances came and maybe we should have killed them off.”

Hopes of booking their place in Brazil appear to be all but over for Scotland, who now need victory over favourites Belgium tomorrow to have any real hope of salvaging their campaign.