Russell Martin believes Scotland are “back to their best” and will go into the crucial Poland match in good heart.
The narrow defeat to world champions Germany has proved that the poor performance in Georgia was a one-off according to the Norwich City defender.
And Ireland and the third-place play-off position is still very much in their sights with two games to go.
“It was obviously disappointing to lose the game but we can proud of the performance,” Martin said.
“We got it back to 2-2 and at half-time we spoke about the guts and bravery we had shown to get back in the game.
“We have come close against them in two games but unfortunately it has not been quite enough.
“It leaves us needing six points from the final two games simple as that.
“We might need a result to go our way elsewhere. It was always going to come down to winning the Poland game to leave us with a chance.
“We will take care of ourselves and see where it takes us.”
He added: “I think Friday was a blip if you consider the form we have shown over the last two years. Friday wasn’t that bad. We weren’t quite good enough and we gave them something to hang onto with the goal.
“Aside from the Georgia game, I can’t recall us having too bad a performance. We have got something from every game apart from Germany away, tonight and Georgia. I think Georgia is one to wipe away. It has happened but it is gone now.
“We can take positives from this match against Germany. That was us back to our best. We were pressing and harrying people and getting up the pitch. They scored three goals from four shots on target that is the way it goes sometimes.
“On a different night we would get something from the game but there were plenty of positives to take from the game. We were hurting afterwards but you have to take positives into the next two games. If we win them then we will hopefully be through.
“I don’t think we have been like that throughout the campaign. We were back to where we should be in terms of performance and we will take that into the next match. If we play like that against Poland we will win.”
It would be easy for the Scottish players to cast an envious eye at all the other qualifying groups.
“We knew this group was going to be tough,” Martin pointed out. “If you look at other groups and the way we have played, we could have qualified by now. But we are in this group and that is the way it goes.
“It is not over by any stretch of the imagination. We still have a chance and we are still in there fighting.
“The progress we have made in two years under the manager is massive. I don’t think that can be underestimated. Aside from Friday, we have been building on performances and results.
“Until someone says we can’t do it then it has got to be there for us. We spoke about that in the dressing room we knew it was going to come down to the Poland game. That is now a must win game. We have spoken about which one would be the must-win game for long enough and now we know which one it will be.”
And watching the other home nations play in France next summer would be a form of football torture for the Scots.
Martin said: “As professionals it would be devastating for us. It has not gone yet so hopefully we will still be there.”
One of the highlights of Monday night for Martin was captaining Scotland after Scott Brown was substituted.
“That meant a huge amount,” he said. “I got it over there as well for half an hour when Fletch went off. It means a huge amount and hopefully shows my standing within the squad. It was a huge honour.”