WE’LL STICK IT TO THEM Skipper insists continuity is key

Darren Fletcher has witnessed dugout disruption wreck previous Scotland qualifying campaigns.

But he’s convinced Gordon Strachan’s decision to stay on could prove vital in their bid to end 20 years of hurt.

Fletcher – back as skipper after Scott Brown’s retirement – is playing under his sixth permanent international boss.

Berti Vogts was axed after a disastrous three-game start to the 2006 World Cup campaign, with George Burley and Craig Levein in the same boat.

Walter Smith left in the midst of an up till then impressive Euro 2008 campaign for Rangers with his replacement Alex McLeish also lured back to club football with Birmingham after almost finishing the job of qualifying.

Strachan signed a new twoyear deal last year – despite missing out on a place at this summer’s Euros – and his side kick off their bid to reach Russia 2018 in Malta tonight.

The next World Cup will take place two decades on from Scotland’s last involvement in a major finals but Fletcher is confident they can do it.

The West Brom captain said: “The thing that gives me the most belief is the continuity in the management side of things.

“Throughout my career it has been stop-start all the time.

“We’ve done really well under managers and that’s been cut short because they’ve gone to clubs off the back of that.

“And then there have been the times when managers haven’t done so well and we’ve had to start all over again halfway through a campaign. With the manager staying and going again for another campaign it’s good.

“There were a lot of positives from the last campaign in terms of how we approached games and attacked teams. With that continuity and the young, exciting players we’ve got and regulars, we’ve got a real good blend and balance I believe can take us forward. We all know how the manager wants to play and what he likes his players to do in certain positions.

“We didn’t qualify for the last tournament and he’s always looking to expand new ideas. But we’ve got that solid base where we know what he expects.”

Fletcher was an unused sub in the Luzhniki Stadium when Manchester United beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League Final with the World Cup set to kick off in the same stadium. The midfielder said: “It would be a great achievement to get to the World Cup.

“I don’t l ike to compare things. Winning the Champions League is an unbel ievable achievement but at the same time, representing your country at a major tournament in Russia would be fantastic.

“I ’ ve amassed a decent number of caps, which is nice, but they’ve all been towards the goal of qualifying for that major competition. To play and pit yourself against the best, to have all your fans there and enjoy the atmosphere, would be the ultimate. Everyone in Scotland who is associated with football wants it. They’ve been deprived of it for a long time.

“I’ve not had it in my career and most impor tant ly a tournament hasn’t had the Scotland fans and team which would be a great addition.”

Fletcher opened the scoring in a 6- 0 rout of the Faroe Islands at Parkhead in 2006, the last time Scotland won the opening game of a qualifying campaign.

And he said: “This will be a tough game. Hearts came here and didn’t get a win. We’ve watched Malta and they’re a tough team to play against.

“They’ve got an Italian coach and are wel l d r i l led and defensively organised so the first goal will be vital in the game.”