Scotland v Gibraltar

Scotland 6 Maloney 18 (pen), 34 (pen) Fletcher 29, 77, 90 Naismith 39

Gibraltar 1 Casciaro 19


Shaun Maloney scored two first-half penalties for Scotland

29 March 2015

Steven Fletcher scored Scotland's first hat-trick for 46 years as they recorded an emphatic victory over Gibraltar.

Shaun Maloney netted a penalty before Gibraltar stunned Hampden with their first competitive goal.

However, Fletcher restored the lead before Maloney tucked away another penalty and Steven Naismith got Scotland's fourth.

The Scots laboured through the second half until Fletcher headed home and curled in for Scotland's sixth.

That hat-trick - the first since Colin Stein netted four against Cyprus in 1969 - gave Scotland their biggest win since beating the Faroe Islands 6-0 in 2006.

The result means Gordon Strachan's side keep pace with Germany, who beat Georgia 2-0 and, like Scotland, move on to 10 points, with Poland and the Republic of Ireland playing later in the evening.

Strachan had hinted beforehand at a change of system against a team who had conceded 21 and scored none in their four previous competitive fixtures.

And so it proved as he played just one central defender in Russell Martin, opting to load the attacking areas in the quest for goals.

But Scotland found Gibraltar awkward opponents, struggling to find a sufficiently high tempo or a crispness of passing to pick the lock of a well-drilled and stuffy side.

As they began to exert their authority, Fletcher might have had a penalty and moments later Maloney did, using his experience to dangle a trailing leg into the Gibraltar keeper Jamie Robba.


Steven Fletcher hit a hat-trick, the first for Scotland since Colin Stein in 1969

On the say-so of the assistant behind the goal, the referee awarded the spot-kick, which Maloney expertly converted.

Within moments, though, Gibraltar had their landmark goal, as the vulnerable-looking Scotland backline was exposed and Lee Casciaro sent the visiting supporters into raptures with a confident finish past David Marshall.

The Scots persevered, without ever approaching the form they have shown previously under Strachan, and regained the lead when Fletcher ended a six-year wait for an international goal by heading a loose ball past Robba.

Only then did Gibraltar begin to lose some of their shape and when Naismith was clipped in the box by Casciaro, Maloney scored his fourth goal of the campaign from the spot.

Naismith made it four before the break, side-footing in from an Ikechi Anya cross to put a gloss on the scoreline that did not necessarily reflect a lacklustre performance.

The same could be said for the second-half display as Gibraltar refused to collapse, but Fletcher's late interventions - the first a header from Jordan Rhodes' cross, the second a cool, curling finish from the edge of the box - won him the match-ball.

The result ensured Scotland head to Dublin in June in buoyant mood, for what could be a pivotal meeting with the Republic of Ireland in the quest to reach Euro 2016.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Scotland


  • 01 Marshall
  • 02 Hutton
  • 05 Martin
  • 03 Robertson
  • 04 Ritchie (Greer - 45' )
  • 08 Brown
  • 07 Morrison
  • 11 Anya (Bannan - 74' )
  • 06 Maloney
  • 09 Fletcher
  • 10 Naismith (Rhodes - 66' )

Substitutes


  • 12 Gordon
  • 13 Russell
  • 14 Greer
  • 15 Bannan
  • 16 McArthur
  • 17 May
  • 18 Rhodes
  • 19 Fletcher
  • 20 Forsyth
  • 21 McGregor
  • 22 Berra
  • 23 Forrest


Gibraltar


  • 13 Robba
  • 02 Wiseman
  • 04 Artell (Garcia - 54' )
  • 05 Casciaro
  • 03 Chipolina
  • 07 Casciaro
  • 08 Payas
  • 06 Chipolina (Gosling - 74' )
  • 17 Bardon (Duarte - 82' )
  • 10 Walker
  • 15 Priestley

Substitutes


  • 01 Perez
  • 09 Casciaro
  • 11 Gosling
  • 14 Sergeant
  • 16 Perez
  • 18 Duarte
  • 19 Duarte
  • 20 Garcia
  • 21 Bosio
  • 22 Jolley
  • 23 Coleing


Ref: Mattias Gestranius

Match Stats

Possession

73 27

Shots

20 5
On target

12 2

Corners

6 2

Fouls

7 10

Live Text Commentary

Full time Full Time Match ends, Scotland 6, Gibraltar 1.
90:00 +6:04 Full time Full Time Second Half ends, Scotland 6, Gibraltar 1.
90:00 +5:31 Attempt missed. Liam Walker (Gibraltar) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Jean Carlos Garcia.
90:00 +4:08 Attempt saved. Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Morrison.
90:00 +4:06 Attempt missed. James Morrison (Scotland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alan Hutton.
90:00 +3:01 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Barry Bannan following a set piece situation.
90:00 +2:14 Barry Bannan (Scotland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90:00 +2:14 Foul by Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar).
90:00 +1:35 Russell Martin (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +1:35 Foul by Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar).
90:00 +1:09 Corner, Gibraltar. Conceded by David Marshall.
90:00 +1:05 Attempt saved. Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Liam Walker.
89:22 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 6, Gibraltar 1. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
88:10 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Jamie Robba.
88:08 Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Scotland) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal.
87:10 Alan Hutton (Scotland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
87:10 Foul by Daniel Duarte (Gibraltar).
86:07 Offside, Scotland. Jordan Rhodes tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
86:03 Attempt saved. Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Steven Fletcher.
85:28 Delay over. They are ready to continue.

85:18 Delay in match Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar) because of an injury.
81:59 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Ryan Casciaro.
81:46 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Gibraltar. Daniel Duarte replaces Anthony Bardon because of an injury.
81:38 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
78:58 Delay in match Anthony Bardon (Gibraltar) because of an injury.
76:54 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 5, Gibraltar 1. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jordan Rhodes with a cross.
76:07 Attempt missed. Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
73:58 Attempt missed. Barry Bannan (Scotland) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
73:29 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Scotland. Barry Bannan replaces Ikechi Anya.
73:10 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Gibraltar. Jake Gosling replaces Roy Chipolina.
72:37 Jordan Rhodes (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72:37 Foul by Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar).
69:03 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
68:35 Delay in match Alan Hutton (Scotland) because of an injury.
68:35 Delay in match Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar) because of an injury.
68:15 Foul by Alan Hutton (Scotland).
68:15 Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
66:12 Scott Brown (Scotland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
66:12 Foul by Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar).
65:24 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Scotland. Jordan Rhodes replaces Steven Naismith.
63:15 Foul by Scott Brown (Scotland).
63:15 Aaron Payas (Gibraltar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
61:50 Hand ball by Shaun Maloney (Scotland).
60:46 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alan Hutton with a cross.
53:25 Offside, Scotland. Ikechi Anya tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
53:01 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Gibraltar. Jean Carlos Garcia replaces David Artell.
51:33 Shaun Maloney (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
51:33 Foul by Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar).
48:02 Foul by Scott Brown (Scotland).
48:02 Liam Walker (Gibraltar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46:13 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) header from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alan Hutton with a cross.
45:00 Second Half begins Scotland 4, Gibraltar 1.
45:00 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Scotland. Gordon Greer replaces Matt Ritchie.
45:00 +1:05 Half time Half Time First Half ends, Scotland 4, Gibraltar 1.
43:59 Dangerous play by James Morrison (Scotland).
43:59 Aaron Payas (Gibraltar) wins a free kick on the right wing.
42:24 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Shaun Maloney with a cross following a corner.
42:03 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Scott Wiseman.
38:19 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 4, Gibraltar 1. Steven Naismith (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ikechi Anya.
37:09 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
36:45 Delay in match Anthony Bardon (Gibraltar) because of an injury.
35:34 Steven Fletcher (Scotland) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Matt Ritchie.
33:45 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 3, Gibraltar 1. Shaun Maloney (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
33:06 Penalty Scotland. Steven Naismith draws a foul in the penalty area.
33:06 Penalty conceded by Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar) after a foul in the penalty area.
30:40 Shaun Maloney (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
30:40 Foul by Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar).
29:56 Attempt missed. Adam Priestley (Gibraltar) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
28:49 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 2, Gibraltar 1. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
26:41 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
26:12 Delay in match Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar) because of an injury.
25:33 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Scott Wiseman.
21:26 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Jamie Robba.
21:22 Attempt saved. Steven Naismith (Scotland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Steven Fletcher with a headed pass.
20:40 Foul by Shaun Maloney (Scotland).
20:40 Aaron Payas (Gibraltar) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
20:01 Offside, Scotland. James Morrison tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
18:53 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 1, Gibraltar 1. Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aaron Payas.
17:41 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Scotland 1, Gibraltar 0. Shaun Maloney (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
16:45 Penalty Scotland. Shaun Maloney draws a foul in the penalty area.
16:45 Penalty conceded by Jamie Robba (Gibraltar) after a foul in the penalty area.
13:51 Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Scotland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Brown.
12:52 Attempt missed. Liam Walker (Gibraltar) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joseph Chipolina.
8:54 Corner, Gibraltar. Conceded by Scott Brown.
8:09 Foul by Scott Brown (Scotland).
8:09 Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar) wins a free kick on the left wing.
5:27 Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Jamie Robba.
2:43 Offside, Scotland. Andrew Robertson tries a through ball, but James Morrison is caught offside.
1:54 Offside, Scotland. Russell Martin tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
1:31 Attempt saved. Steven Fletcher (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross.
0:34 Foul by Joseph Chipolina (Gibraltar).
0:34 Steven Naismith (Scotland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
0:00 First Half begins.
0:00 Lineups are announced and players are warming up.