Scotland earn rare win over Estonia

Estonia 0 Scotland 1

James McFadden netted the only goal of the game in Estonia to hand Berti Vogts’ new-look Scotland side a rare and extremely welcome win.

With 18 players either out injured or absent through other commitments the excuses were ready-made for the German, who had previously steered his adopted nation to four straight losses.

But they were not necessary as McFadden’s 76th-minute strike made sure a performance that had seen plenty of earlier chances go begging was not wasted in the end.

Vogts handed the captaincy to 20-year-old Darren Fletcher, who became the youngest Scot to lead out his country since 1886.

The Manchester United man was all action in an attacking midfield role, spraying passes in all directions when he was not taking on men himself.

Debutant Nigel Quashie, the former England B international who re-qualifies through a Glaswegian grandfather, was there alongside him in a starting line-up that saw two other debutants – Quashie’s Portsmouth colleague Richard Hughes at left-back and David McNamee of Livingston at right-back.

Kenny Miller took an early knock and was often hobbling but was able to get on the end of a cross from Hughes that he headed wide.

A much better chance came his way in the 20th minute when a long ball from Gary Caldwell sent him clear of the last defender.

It was a great chance but home goalkeeper Martin Kaalma came out to make a vital block.

That was the start of some intense Scottish pressure that saw a McFadden effort deflected over and Gary Holt fire just wide from the resulting corner.

The two sides traded bookings with Kristen Viikmae punished for elbowing Malky Mackay in the face on the half hour mark and Caldwell pulled up seven minutes later for body-checking Joel Lindpere.

In between Scotland goalkeeper Paul Gallacher had pulled off his first save of note, diving to block at the feet of Andres Oper, who had set up the chance himself by sending Sergei Terehhov away down the right.

Strike partner Viikmae fluffed an even better chance not long after when Terehhov put him in beyond the Scotland backline but although he was able to loft the ball over Gallacher he also succeeded in clearing the far post.

The Scots reply saw Caldwell leaping in a crowded box to power a header that thumped back off the crossbar, with Kaalma seemingly having helped it on the way.

McFadden set up Miller for an excellent chance soon after a restart that had seen Andy Webster replace Steven Pressley at the back but again Kaalma was in fine form to block.

Miller was on the end of the resulting corner and when his header was parried only as far as Hughes six yards out it seemed that the newcomer would mark his debut with the opening goal.

Instead he blazed wastefully over, sending the ball into the Tartan Army behind the goal.

Kaalma made saves from free-kicks from Fletcher and then Gary Caldwell as Estonia defended recklessly outside their own box, and in between Miller had headed a good chance wide after being picked out in the box by Holt.

Another one came and went for the Wolves striker who failed to lob Kaalma after Fletcher had set him up with a run into the box.

The Scots had created and missed plenty of chances but, at last, one went in. Just 14 minutes were remaining when McFadden twisted away from defenders to fire home a low drive that, for once, Kaalma was unable to reach.

The goalkeeper did make another good save to add to his tally almost straight away however when McFadden found space in the box only to see his shot beaten away.

The Scots will now round off an up and down season with an Edinburgh friendly with Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.