Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren is hoping for a stronger performance from his team as they look to close out the Concacaf World Cup qualifying group stage on a high and build valuable momentum heading into the final round.
Though the Boyz have already booked their place in the next phase, McClaren insists there is still plenty to play for when they lock horns with fellow unbeaten side Guatemala at the National Stadium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Boyz currently sit second in Group E on nine points, the same as the Central Americans, who boast a superior goal difference.
“Every game is important for us. It is important to win the games. However you do that, you just need to find a way to win. We’ve got to do that against a very good Guatemalan team, who we face again in the Gold Cup, so it’s going to be two intriguing games. We’re focused, and we want to finish top of the group," McClaren said during a pre-match press conference.
But beyond the standings, McClaren is determined to reverse a troubling home record that has seen Jamaica go winless in his three matches at the National Stadium since taking the helm last July. In their last fixture at the National Stadium, the Boyz were edged 1-0 by the United States in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final, with goalless stalemates against Cuba and Honduras prior to that.
Still, the Boyz have shown better form at other venues, as they defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year at Sabina Park and Montego Bay Sports Complex, respectively.
"It’s about winning here, and it’s about scoring goals here. That’s my next goal and next milestone, to make this a place where people want to come. To do that, we have to win games here, and to win games, we have to score goals here, and we haven’t done enough of both,” he said.
However, following a somewhat lacklustre 1-0 victory over the British Virgin Islands on Saturday, McClaren stressed the importance of delivering a more commanding display, especially for the home fans.
Jamaica boast an impressive historical record against Guatemala, with 11 wins and three draws in 18 previous meetings. But McClaren is not underestimating their opponents, who are unbeaten in four of their last five outings.
"They’re very good technically. Tactically, they’ve got a settled team and a way of playing, so it will be a totally different game—one end of the spectrum to the other from the BVI. This game is important because it’s against a very good team technically. They had a great win against the Dominican Republic the other day, so it’s going to be a tough game; it won’t be easy, and again, it’s another experience," the Englishman noted.
That said, McClaren also stressed the need for greater attacking contributions from his wide and midfield players.
"I don’t think we’re converting our chances as often as possible in the games, and, certainly here, we haven’t scored the goals," the tactician said.
"Warner Brown has come in and contributed well, and [Rumarn] Burrell has come in and contributed well. What we need now are goals from our wide players and midfield players, and that’s one reason why Jon [Russell] has come into the team. Front players, wide players, and midfield players need to contribute more; otherwise, we’re not going to win football matches, and we’re going to see inconsistent results," he ended.