Of salvaged pride in San Marino

strong drawing a double-save from Elia Benedettini in 25 minutes, the pattern of the game altered to such an extent that San Marino seemed as likely to score as their shapeless and generally lifeless visitors.

On the half-hour, the absence of constructive passing and telling quick movement in forward areas from Scotland genuinely threatened to give way to a disaster that would have potentially knocked the grim events of Kazakhstan into a cocked hat. Slack play from Scotland allowed San Marino to break with promise down the right, leading to collective hearts being in mouths among the visiting fans as Filippo Berardi slipped in Jose Hirsch for a clear sight at goal only for him to drill the ball it into the side netting.

With Paterson, utilised as the attacking spearhead, shortly afterwards being lost to an ankle knock that brought Marc Mcnulty into the fray, the sense of a fragile Scotland beginning to fray took root. The interval provided little respite with another scare coming 52 minutes in after Scott Mckenna put his hand on the back of Filippo Berardi and the forward tumbled in the box, referee Manuel Schuettengruber judging the player had gone to ground too easily.

The outcome remained in the balance until Forrest was introduced for Armstrong with 20 minutes remaining and then, three minutes later, tore down the right and squared a low ball that Marc Mcnulty, right, stepped over to allow Russell to jink round the keeper and ram a shot high into the net for a composed finish. The Scotland team reacted with relief more than celebration. As well they might have done, with this display doing nothing to dispel the clouds gathering around Mcleish. 2 Kenny Mclean gets down low to glance in a header for Scotland’s opening goal but they had to wait for more than an hour before the second arrived. 1 Marcmcnulty, who was brought on to replace the injury Callum Paterson, at the final whistle.