Fan violence as Scotland’s World Cup dream turns into Wembley nightmare

GORDON STRACHAN will soon have to face the music. A 3-0 defeat at Wembley comes hot on the heels of a heavy defeat in Slovakia and a sudden loss of the determined form that saw Scotland believe there was a chance the Tartan Army might be booking tickets to Russia in 18 months.

For Gareth Southgate it was a deserved and absolutely essential victory. England’s caretaker manager has been charged with dragging his beleaguered side through what should be an easy World Cup qualification campaign.

It wasn’t quite the thumping the scoreline suggests. For large sections of the game Scotland were a firm match for the Auld Enemy but, as is often the case north of the border, the distinction was in class and ruthless finishing.

After four games England sit top of Group F with 10 points while Scotland languish in fourth behind Slovenia, Slovakia, and Lithuania, which says it all really.

There was crowd trouble before the game but little to suggest either Scotland or England’s pot-bellied warriors will be any match for the organised Russian firms.