Slick Scots’ dream kept alive thanks to former United duo

Plastic fantastic as Strachan’s side produce the goods in Vilnius with Armstrong and Robertson the goal heroes

Lithuania 0 Scotland 3

Some feared Scotland’s World Cup dream would melt on the plastic in Vilnius but instead it was recycled.

The visitors played as if they didn’t have a care in the world, never mind worrying about the LFF Stadium’s artificial surface.

Lively and inventive, the Scots took a well-deserved lead on 25 minutes when former Dundee United star Stuart Armstrong headed home a Leigh Griffiths corner.

Then a quite beautiful goal from ex-Tangerines full-back Andy Robertson on the half-hour mark made it two as Gordon Strachan’s players caused utter chaos in the home defence.

James McArthur made it 3-0 on 72 minutes and it was all over.

The watchword for Strachan pre-match was “believe” and suddenly Group F looks better, especially with the points tally now 11 and with a home game against minnows Malta to come on Monday night.

It may have been the late, late show, with the match not kicking off until a quarter to 10 local time, but Scotland’s players were definitely wide awake, right from the first whistle.

There were three changes to the line-up for the 2-2 draw with England, with McArthur, Matt Phillips and James Forrest in for Ikechi Anya, James Morrison and Robert Snodgrass.

No fewer than six Celtic players made it: Armstrong, Griffiths, keeper Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, captain Scott Brown and Forrest.

Remarkably, the only survivor from the side that started the 1-1 draw against Lithuania last October was Robertson.

The match came to life on six minutes when a great run by Robertson saw him pick out Griffiths just outside the box. The Hoops striker took a touch, spun around and then fired wide of the post.

The next chance was made at Celtic Park, with Forrest, Tierney and Armstrong linking up before the former Tannadice man curled the ball wide.

On 10 minutes, though, the home team almost took the lead when James McArthur gave away good possession. Arvydas Novikovas turned Scots defender Christophe Berra inside out before pulling his shot wide.

Just a minute later, Phillips blasted a strike over as the Lithuanian defence struggled to cope with the visitors’ pace before Armstrong just missed the post with a drive from 25 yards.

On 21 minutes, a superbly-struck set-piece from 30 yards by Novikovas had Gordon producing an excellent save to push the ball away for a corner.

It was almost Griffiths-like and, almost on cue, the Scotland striker stepped up at the other end to fire a free-kick just wide.

After another Griffiths shot was deflected wide, the Scots took a dramatic lead on 25 minutes.

The frontman took the corner from the right and Armstrong bulleted home