Heat on Burns as Scots cave in

Scotland 1 Sweden 4

Two goals from Marcus Allback and one each from Johan Elmander and Fredrik Berglund put Sweden home and dry before James McFadden pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Burns, the former Celtic manager, was Berti Vogts’ assistant during a dismal two-year period which saw the Scots plummet down the world rankings. The odds had been heavily stacked against Burns from the start, with almost a full team of his more experienced internationals - including captain Barry Ferguson - ruled out.

Ian Murray, playing on his home ground, had teenage goalkeeper David Marshall to thank in only the second minute. Murray gifted possession to Berglund but his shot was parried by the Celtic youngster.

McFadden fired a free-kick he had won himself over before lone striker Kenny Miller tested Celtic’s other goalkeeper - Magnus Hedman - with a well-struck effort.

The Scots were surrendering possession far too cheaply and there was a let-off in the 19th minute when Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg sent a free header wide from a corner.

Sweden took the lead in the 26th minute through Allback, who stroked home a layback from the byline on the right by Christian Wilhelmsson with aplomb. Miller was full of running and fired across goal and wide from a tight angle on the left, with McFadden’s cunning having set up the chance and the Everton man was clattered by Hedman as the goalkeeper came charging out of his area.

Within four minutes of the restart, Allback had made it 2-0.

McFadden almost engineered a chance for Nicholson but the ball ended up in Hedman’s hands - and the inexperienced Scot on the ground. Miller was replaced by Stevie Crawford with 19 minutes remaining but the Plymouth man could only watch as the Swedes doubled their lead again.

Elmander fired home on the rebound after Marshall parried a shot from Niclas Alexandersson. Within seconds, Berglund had been presented with a tap-in to make it 4-0, following a powerful burst into the box by Teddy Lucic. But there was to be some joy on a miserable night when McFadden converted a 78th-minute penalty himself, having been fouled in the box by Mikael Dorsin.

The final whistle was greeted by a mild bout of booing.

SCOTLAND: Marshall, McNaughton, Murray, Anderson, Webster, McNamara, Nicholson, Quashie, Miller, McFadden, Pearson.

SWEDEN: Hedman, Nilsson, Mellberg, Lucic, Dorsin, Andersson, Alexandersson, Kallstrom, Wilhelmsson, Allback, Berglund.

Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech).