Good evening! Welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of Scotland's closing
Euro 2016 qualifier against
Gibraltar. It ended in disappointment for the Scots on Thursday when a last minute Robert Lewandowski equaliser condemned them to yet another summer watching the action unfold from home. Attention now turns towards the World Cup qualifying campaign, and a good performance tonight would give a much-needed boost to the side.
You'd be forgiven for thinking this was a meaningless match for Scotland. With qualification out of reach, it stretches their long wait for tournament football to at least 20 years.
It does give Scotland a chance to give some fringe players a chance though in an attempt to make the next World Cup.
TEAM NEWS!SCOTLAND XI: McGregor; Hutton, Greer, Berra, Robertson; Brown, Dorrans, Ritchie, Maloney; S.Fletcher, C.Martin
Subs: Gordon, Marshall, Shinnie, Whittaker, R.Martin, Hanley, D.Fletcher, Russell, Naismith
GIBRALTAR XI: J.Robba; J.Chipolina, R.Casciaro, R.Chipolina (C), D.Duarte; Barnett, Garcia, K.Casciaro, Walker, Bardon; L.Casciaro
Subs: J. Perez, Neale, Bosio, Rovegno, Guilling, B. Perez, Gosling, J. Coombes, Clarke, Cabrera, J.P. Duarte, Yome
It's a surprisingly strong starting lineup named by Gordon Strachan tonight, with
Steven Fletcher and Scott Brown both starting.
Graeme Shinnie and Johnny Russell only make the bench. Surely this would have been the perfect low pressure situation to give more fringe players a chance.
Strachan's hand was forced slightly in the build up to the match, with
five withdrawals after Thursday's result.
Of that group, there surely will have been a temptation to give starts to Jordan Rhodes and Leigh Griffiths up front tonight.
There has in fact been seven changes in the Scotland line-up but you can't help but feel there are some missed opportunities for some players.
Shinnie in particular has proven himself to be arguably the best left back in the Scottish Premiership this season, playing a massive part in Aberdeen's pursuit of Celtic, but the tried-and-tested Andrew Robertson continues.
For Gibraltar, this will be there final competitive match until September 2018, when the Euro 2020 qualifiers get underway. They aren't a FIFA member yet so can't compete in the World Cup but will look to be much improved in four years time.
They scored their
first ever international goal against Scotland in March, and Lee Casciaro starts again tonight.
Gibraltar have lost all nine of their matches this campaign but there has been some positives for their men.
After starting with two 7-0 losses, to Poland and Republic of Ireland, they improved and conceded just three against Georgia.
Their best performance of the campaign came away to Germany though. In just their fourth competitive match in their history, people were expecting the world champions to reach double figures, but Gibraltar's courageous performance limited the score to 4-0. They conceded just one goal in the second half.
Following that was the game at Hampden, and we all know what happened there, with Casciaro beating the defence to score his nation's first ever goal.
Captain Roy Chipolina has said that a goal is the target for Gibraltar tonight:
"To score at Hampden was unbelievable," Chipolina told BBC Sport.
"It was the most amazing experience we have all had. I don't know how many times we have seen the goal since. Hopefully we can build on that and I am sure one day we will see better results."
Progress - that's the buzzword surrounding Scottish football at the moment. Strachan has undoubtedly improved this Scotland side, and things are looking positive for the future.
Of course it's a massive disappointment to be watching Euro 2016 but Scotland are now far away from the dark days of Craig Levein's strikerless formation. A big win tonight will give the fans something to cheer about tonight.
Gordon Strachan's future has been on the agenda this week. His contract expires this summer, and he has
not yet decided whether he will stay on.
With the progress mentioned earlier, it really would be a blow to lose Strachan.
Flower of Scotland rings out around the Estadio Algarve. What an away following they've brought with them tonight. Outstanding stuff from the Tartan Army.
PREDICTION: We're just a minute away from kick off now, and it's time for a prediction.
Scotland simply must finish their qualifying campaign with a bang tonight, and I think they'll do so - a confident performance from Strachan's men - I'm expecting a 6-0 win.
KICKOFF! Scotland get the game underway.
Scotland attack early, and Fletcher is bundled over on the right by-line. An opportunity for Matt Ritchie to float one into the area...
It's poor by Ritchie as his ball into the box doesn't beat the first defender. The ball eventually rolls harmlessly out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Steven Fletcher beats the offside trap and chips the ball across the area to Maloney, but the forward can't get a good enough connection on the volley and the ball is deflected out for a corner.
Scotland continue to dominate possession, and look like they'll rack up a lot of goals tonight. Alan Hutton's resurgency continues with a burst down the right wing, but he is stopped by Duarte.
CHANCE! Hutton is again in the thick of the action, taking the ball into the final third. His cross finds Steven Fletcher but the Sunderland man heads over the bar.
Liam Walker leads Gibraltar's first venture into the Scotland half, and eventually shoots wide of the target.
SAVE! Hutton really is getting all the space he needs down the right side, and his cross is knocked down for Maloney. A low shot is struck towards goal but Robba makes the save with his leg.
Gibraltar are growing into this one and enjoy a spell of possession. Walker is linking up play well and Roy Chipolina leads the advance.
CHANCE! Gibraltar nearly take the lead! Casciaro runs at the Scottish defence before dinking a ball into the box towards Walker, but Greer gets to the ball first to keep Scotland level.
CHANCE! Scotland go straight up the other end and, you guessed it, Hutton creates another good chance. This time, he cuts the ball back to Steven Fletcher but his shot from the edge of the area can't beat Robba.
SHOT! Scotland attack down the left and Robertson finds Ritchie, but he gets his shot all wrong and the ball flies high over the bar.
Hutton cuts in from the right, and with Martin available for the cutback, Hutton decides to go for Steven Fletcher in the six-yard box, Robba reads it well though and gathers the ball.
CHANCE! Terrific save! Ritchie chips a ball into the area and Maloney volleys it at goal, but Robba reacts quickly to parry the ball wide.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-1 Scotland (Chris Martin)
From the resulting corner, Maloney finds Greer, whose looped headerbeats Robba and Martin is at the back post to make sure.
It was only a matter of time! Scotland have been knocking on the door and Martin scores the easiest goal of his career. Good work from Greer to beat Robba.
Scotland threaten again, with a cross but Berra can't quite reach it and the ball is cleared to safety.
CHANCE! Robertson's cross finds Ritchie but Robba makes an unconventional save and Chipolina clears the ball.
POST! Scotland go again, and Martin passes the ball to Steven Fletcher when in a good position to shoot. The ball rebounds off Fletcher's shin and bounces off the post.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-2 Scotland (Shaun Maloney)
It looked like Scotland were going in at the break just one up, but
Shaun Maloney had other ideas! A Hutton cross is only cleared to the edge of the area, and Fletcher found Maloney on the left. An exquisite chipped shot lobs Robba and finds the top right corner. Very well taken finish from Maloney.
SHOT! Ritchie's corner finds Berra unmarked but the centre back heads wide of the target. He should have done better there.
Some good defending stops Maloney's advances into the penalty area, and Scotland eventually win a throw-in. That leads to a foul on Martin on the left by-line, which Maloney takes. Martin flicks it on and Robba makes another solid save.
HALF TIME: Gibraltar 0-2 Scotland
So what to make of that half then? Scotland have dominated but they're only able to score twice. That's not good enough for Strachan's men.
Mark's got it spot on really...
The full back play has certainly been a massive plus so far this evening. Hutton has been excellent down the right side, and Robertson has impressed too on the left.
More goals needed though. 16 shots, two goals. That conversion rate has to be improved.
Surely the opportunity is there for Johnny Russell to do just that in the second half?
KICKOFF! Gibraltar start the second half and launch the ball upfield.
Ritchie retrieves the loose ball but miscontrols it and is penalised for obstruction when he bellyflops onto the ball. From the free kick, Gibraltar play the ball upfield but Hutton ushers the ball out for a goal kick.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-3 Scotland (Steven Fletcher)
Steven Fletcher finally hits the back of the net! After a host of chances tonight, he heads past Robba to extend Scotland's lead. A superb cross from Hutton left the striker with an easy chance - one that even Steven Fletcher doesn't pass up.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-4 Scotland (Steven Fletcher)
Wow! Just as I give Fletcher some stick he scores a really well-taken goal. Coming in off the right, he curls the ball round Robba into the far corner. Credit where it's due - well done Steven Fletcher!
CHANCE! Scotland nearly add a fifth! Robertson's cross isn't dealt with by the defender and Martin's outstretched leg can't quite reach the ball. Just a touch would have added another there.
Scotland are in total control now, and they really should be further ahead tonight.
Johnny Russell and Darren Fletcher are preparing to come on for Scotland for the final 30 minutes.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Darren Fletcher comes on for Brown and Johnny Russell makes his competitive debut as a replacement for Ritchie.
CHANCE! Casciaro has a chance for Gibraltar! The Scotland defence back off and the striker hits it just a yard wide of the left post from 30 yards.
CHANCE! Martin plays in Russell who strikes over the bar from the right.
CHANCE! Scotland dissect the Gibraltan defence once again, but Russell's ball across the face of goal is just inches away from Steven Fletcher's right boot.
Gibraltar continue to be camped in their own half but Robba comes to the rescue when he claims Robertson's cross well.
There's just no urgency in Scotland's play anymore. They seem happy to play the final 15 minutes of the match out.
SHOT! Walker dribbles into the final third but his shot from 20 yards flies over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Stephen Naismith replaces Martin. He needs to revitalise Scotland's attack in the final stages.
SHOT! Naismith combines well with Maloney but the substitute fires high over the bar. Strachan cuts a frustrated figure on the bench. Apart from a 10-minute spell in the second half Scotland have been entirely wasteful.
SUBSTITUTION: Lee Casciaro gets a standing ovation from the Gibraltar fans when he is replaced by Duarte.
SAVE! The ball falls to Russell at the edge of the box, but the Derby County man strikes it straight at Robba who is able to gather.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-5 Scotland (Steven Fletcher)
Steven Fletcher has completely redeemed himself in this second half! His third goal is the best of the lot, turning on the edge of the area and launching the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
SAVE! What a save from Robba! Russell makes an excellent foray into the penalty area, and plays a one-two with Naismith, but his shot from seven yards is somehow stopped by Robba.
There will be three minutes of added time.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-6 Scotland (Steven Naismith)
Six! Naismith bursts into the area and nets in stoppage time with a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner.
FULL TIME: Gibraltar 0-6 Scotland
Scotland get their biggest away win for 66 years, and their biggest win since beating the Faroe Islands in 2006. A polished performance in the end, but laboured at times for Scotland, and a good way to bounce back from Thursday nights performance.
Unfortunately, it's all too late for Strachan's side but things are positive ahead of the World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign.
That's all from me tonight! Join us again on
Sports Mole. I'll leave you with the full
match report courtesy of Alex Meyers. Until next time.
