McLeish and Scotland have saved face slightly with this routine win, but they'll of course face firmer tests than today. Whether Scotland can pass those tests, we'll just have to see. That's all for now. Goodbye!
That was Scotland's fourth consecutive 2-0 win in San Marino, the previous one coming in 2000 under Craig Brown. They've now beaten the Sammarinese more times than they have any other side except the other Home Nations. This result leaves Scotland fifth in Group I, level on points with four other sides, although Belgium and Cyprus can pull away as they play each other shortly.
Scotland leave San Marino with the win they needed, accompanied by a smattering of boos from their supporters in the stands. They weren't entirely convincing today and had McLean's early goal to thank that the game wasn't more nervy. Russell's goal settled the issue late on, and in the end Scotland did a professional job against an opposition who are always limited but stubborn.
90' + 4' FULL TIME: SAN MARINO 0-2 SCOTLAND
F. Berardi
Yellow Card
90' + 3' Now McTominay comes off worse from a challenge as Berardi accidentally stands on his foot. The Sammarinese midfielder is booked. That'll be the last meaningful action of the game.
S. McTominay
Yellow Card
90' + 1' McTominay gets a yellow card for arriving slightly late on Lunadei, clipping the midfielder's foot.
90' There will be four minutes added onto the end of this game. Scotland's job is done.
89' Scotland's superior fitness levels are beginning to show now as San Marino don't have the energy to get out of their half. Fraser clips the ball through for Robertson and his cross-cum-shot is tipped away by Benedettini!
87' McNulty's physical presence is causing San Marino problems. The Hibs loan striker has his header cleared off the line but play's stopped anyway as he was climbing all over Grandoni.
L. Lunadei
D. Simoncini
86' Simoncini's day is done. He hands the captain's armband to Palazzi and is replaced by the wonderfully named Lunadei.
84' Robertson's fantastic raking ball over the top finds McNulty. He tries to chip Benedettini with his second touch but the keeper gets just enough on the ball for it to loop over the bar! Scotland corner.
82' Scotland pop the ball around without much urgency. San Marino look pooped.
80' Simoncini has gone down with what looks to be a spot of cramp. The physio races on to help the San Marino captain. He walks off the pitch temporarily.
A. Grandoni
A. Hirsch
78' Hirsch's day is over. He'll reflect on missing out on what would have been a famous goal earlier. Grandoni replaces him.
76' Scotland look rejuvenated now. Forrest's blocked cross from the right loops up for McNulty who only has to nod into the net but somehow his effort bounces wide.
J. Forrest
Assist
74' Forrest has only been on the pitch for five minutes and he's already played his part in doubling Scotland's lead. It's almost as if he should have started in the first place...
J. Russell
Goal
74' GOAL! 2-0 Scotland! It's game over now. Scotland go on a lightning counter-attack down their right through Forrest. McNulty dummies and Russell picks it up, cleverly deceives Benedettini with a switch of feet and blasts the ball into the roof of the net.
72' Scotland almost score! Fraser receives a cut-back from the left and unleashes a thundering shot just inside the box. It's blocked. McTominay wastes his team's momentum by fouling Hirsch.
J. Forrest
S. Armstrong
71' Armstrong - who's worked hard today without much reward - goes off for Forrest. Will Scotland add to their goal tally?
69' Scotland go looking for a second as we enter the final quarter of the game. Russell looks up for O'Donnell in space on the right wing but the full-back is offside.
68' Scotland have had four shots so far in this half - and none on target. It has not been a vintage performance.
66' San Marino venture forward but Hirsch's cross from the left is a weak one easily cut out by Bates. Berardi takes his team on the counter again after Scotland come on the attack in reply, but the midfielder is muscled off the ball far too easily.
64' Fraser has been Scotland's best player today. The Bournemouth man beats Battistini again before fizzing a cross across the face of goal. San Marino can't clear, and McTominay fires over first-time.
62' Benedettini's goal-kick is threaded through for Armstrong but the San Marino keeper picks up the ball once it enters his area.
N. Nanni
M. Vitaioli
60' San Marino make their first change. Vitaioli is replaced up front by Nanni - an 18-year-old striker who plays for Crotone in Serie B.
58' Benedettini pushes Russell's cross from the right away as the Scotland man whips it into the corridor of uncertainty. Scotland get another corner but the San Marino keeper claims this one comfortably.
S. McTominay
C. McGregor
57' Scotland elect to make another change. McGregor off. McTominay on.
55' Scotland are threatening again. First McNulty has a shot blocked by Cevoli but Scotland can't do anything with the corner. Then Scotland win another corner as Benedettini cautiously pushes a shot away and McKenna's header in the six yard box bounces wide.
53' Scotland try to capitalise on their escape but Battistini deals adeptly with Fraser and wins a free-kick. Palazzi drags his left-footed shot from range wide.
51' That could have been a penalty! San Marino resist another Scottish attack and go forward themselves. Berardi looks like he's getting a rush of blood to the head as he skips into Scotland's box and goes down under pressure from McKenna. The ref isn't convinced.
49' San Marino lump a few high passes forward for Vitaioli. It doesn't work. Palazzi wins a foul when under pressure from O'Donnell.
48' Scotland immediately counter but Armstrong's touch lets him down and the San Marino defenders watch the ball roll out for a goal-kick.
47' Scotland press the issue down their right but San Marino get a reprieve as Russell and Hirsch catch feet while challenging for a high ball. San Marino free-kick.
46' San Marino kick this second half off and immediately hand Scotland possession as they put the ball out for a throw.
McLean's goal was Scotland's first goal in six that hadn't been scored by Celtic striker Forrest - who's on the bench today. The visitors need more of their players to chip in with the goals if they want to get out of this group.
Scotland deserve to go in leading this game at half-time but you have to say they're making hard work of it. A few decent saves from San Marino's keeper apart, the Scots haven't really made their dominance count and they would have been mightily relieved to see Hirsch's shot hit the side netting. Still, there's plenty of time for them to rack up the goals as San Marino tire.
45' + 3' HALF TIME: SAN MARINO 0-1 SCOTLAND
45' + 2' Now Armstrong has a shot blocked after the Southampton man picks up the ball from Fraser's pass. That should be that for this half.
45' + 1' Russell takes the free-kick. It hits the wall and his follow-up shot is blocked. The Scotland fans don't sound pleased.
45' Russell wins a free-kick 25 yards out as San Marino's captain Simoncini trips the Sporting Kansas City man. There will be two added minutes.
43' That's better from Scotland. Fraser races down the left again and hangs up a ball for a colleague to latch onto - unfortunately no one is there.
43' Scotland wisely keep the ball, knowing their opponents will do little to nothing to press them. The away fans - understandably - start to boo.
41' A Scotland pass rolls out for a throw on the left touchline after Fraser runs past the ball. That was abject.
39' Armstrong's shot from outside the box is blocked. Scotland haven't created much for the past few minutes.
38' That Scotland substitution follows another San Marino foul as Hirsch halts Russell's progress through the centre.
M. McNulty
C. Paterson
37' It looks like Paterson's day is over - the Cardiff man hasn't shaken off the knock he got earlier. McNulty replaces him.
36' San Marino defend with heart but they aren't half clumsy. Berardi gives away a silly free-kick with an over-eager foul on Robertson.
34' Not much is happening right now. Scotland will be glad that San Marino's brief attacking spell is over.
32' Another Scotland corner goes to waste. San Marino counter and Palazzi's shot from range bounces just wide of Bain's left-hand post.
31' Scotland go straight up the other end and almost score again! Benedettini drops low to save Paterson's stooping header. There's a delay as Paterson injures himself with the attempt but he's fine now.
30' Berardi's through-ball finds Hirsch's darting run through the Scottish defence. The winger shoots from a difficult angle and hits the side netting. Scotland's hearts must have been in their mouths then!
28' San Marino go on a rare attack. The home side work the ball to Palazzi who should shoot himself. Instead he wrongly waits for Hirsch on the overlap and O'Donnell intercepts.
26' Fraser pops a ball over the top for Armstrong that Cevoli puts out for a corner. Benedettini punches it away but Simoncini concedes a foul on the right hand side.
24' Mularoni brings down Fraser just on the edge of the San Marino box. It briefly looks like a penalty but it's only a free-kick. Fraser's curling effort is way over.
22' Not much comes of Scotland's third corner of the game. San Marino may have zero attacking threat but their defence is capable enough. One supposes it has to be.
20' What a double save by Benedettini! Some silky play through the middle sets up Armstrong for his first shot which Benedettini blocks. The ball pops up for Armstrong to chest down and try again but the San Marino keeper gets to his feet quickly to save again from a tight angle!
19' San Marino win a free-kick in their area after O'Donnell unfairly challenges Hirsch to a header from another cross.
18' Fraser floats a high cross over the San Marino defence that Armstrong stretches but fails to reach at the far post. It's all Scotland.
17' Fraser is fouled again, by Cevoli this time. Scotland do nothing with the free-kick but manage to keep possession.
15' San Marino go on a tentative counter-attack. O'Donnell cuts out an attempted through-ball for Berardi with ease.
14' Scotland win a corner down their left. Unusually, it's floated to O'Donnell hovering outside the box who leathers the ball straight into a defender. No foul.
13' Scotland build another attack as San Marino drop all 11 men behind the ball. The men in blue eventually win the ball back but can't find a ball through the Scottish defence.
11' Russell shoots way over when the ball lands to him in the six yard box, although it's at a difficult height. Scotland have had about 80 per cent possession so far. It's one-way traffic as expected.
10' Fraser is tormenting his opposite number Battistini right now. San Marino's long-haired right-back brings the winger down near the corner flag. Scotland free-kick.
8' Fraser is looking lively. The Bournemouth winger flashes another cross across the San Marino goal that Russell can't reach. Russell puts his hands up in appreciation.
6' San Marino win a free-kick in Scotland's half. It falls to Vitaioli who almost gets a shot away in Scotland's box but Scotland quickly clear their lines.
R. Fraser
Assist
4' That was a lovely cross from Fraser. It must be hard being a San Marino footballer.
K. McLean
Goal
4' GOAL! 1-0 Scotland! McLean nods Fraser's in-swinging cross from the left past Benedettini and in at the far post. That'll relieve the Scottish nerves.
3' Scotland have their first shot of the game - a tame header away lands to McLean who volleys over from outside the box. A promising start by the Scots.
2' Scotland keep possession nicely in the early stages as the bagpipes play in the background. Fraser takes a decent pass to feet in the San Marino box - his cross from the right is headed back by Simoncini into the arms of his keeper.
1' Scotland, playing in their yellow and black away strip, get this match underway!
The two sides stand for their respective national anthems on a beautiful evening in Serravalle. Flower of Scotland parps along nicely; San Marino's Inno Nazionale della Repubblica is solemn, stirring stuff.
This should be a Scotland win, no question - Scotland have won all six of their last meetings with San Marino in all competitions, scoring 19 times without conceding. The Sammarinese have lost all of their last 28 games by an aggregate score of 120-3. The only question is: how many goals will Scotland score?
San Marino make three changes from the side that lost 5-0 to Cyprus earlier this week as they switch from a back five to an ambitious 4-3-3. In come Hirsch, Alessandro Golinucci and Vitaioli. McLeish, meanwhile, wields an axe to the side that lost so poorly to Kazakhstan, making six changes including bringing in an entirely new front three of Russell, Paterson and Fraser. O'Donnell and McLean come in too, while Scotland's captain Robertson also returns at left-back.
SCOTLAND SUBS: Marc McNulty, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Oliver McBurnie, Oliver Burke, Graeme Shinnie, James Forrest, Liam Palmer, John Fleck, Liam Kelly, Jon McLaughlin, John Souttar.
SCOTLAND (4-3-3): Scott Bain; Stephen O'Donnell, David Bates, Scott McKenna, Andrew Robertson (c); Callum McGregor, Stuart Armstrong, Kenny McLean; Johnny Russell, Callum Paterson, Ryan Fraser.
SAN MARINO SUBS: Davide Cesarini, Nicola Nanni, Danilo Rinaldi, Simone Benedettini, Lorenzo Lunadei, Mattia Giardi, Matteo Zavoli, Andrea Grandoni, Cristian Brolli, Luca Censoni, Michael Battistini, Fabio Tomassini.
Luckily for Scotland, today they're facing the plucky part-time minnows of San Marino - notoriously Europe's worst national side. With respect to the Sammarinese, Scotland really should rack up a big win here - even conceding a goal would be an embarrassment. Surely the Scots can't sink that low?
Scotland are only on the second game of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and already it feels like a must-win. Alex McLeish's side's humiliating 3-0 defeat by Kazakhstan earlier this week means they're having to play catch-up with group favourites Belgium and Russia far sooner than expected.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this Euro 2020 qualifying Group I match between San Marino and Scotland at San Marino Stadium.
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