Dailly routine suits Scotland

World Cup: Super subs keep alive faint qualification hopes as Smith marks his Hampden bow with first group win

Scotland 2 - Moldova 0 (Half-time: 0-0)

Scotland 2 - Moldova 0 (Half-time: 0-0)

Scotland: Dailly 52, McFadden 88

Attendance: 50,000

Jock Stein used to say that you put on your working clothes for tasks such as this and keep your good suit for the big day. The elegantly-tailored Walter Smith cut a far more immaculate figure on the touchline yesterday than his side did, but that will not prevent him embracing Scotland's first win in their World Cup qualifying group.

It was a scruffy win, epitomised by the goal Christian Dailly bundled in, to which Scotland clung for more than half an hour until James McFadden came off the bench to supply a more comfortable scoreline with a sweet finish two minutes from the end.

That ensured Smith became the first Scotland manager since Stein in 1978 to win his opening encounter at this ground. After failing to win in their first four qualifying games - largely the work of the miserable Berti Vogts - Smith built on the promise of his baptism in Italy in March. Now a visit to Belarus on Wednesday will test whether Scotland's rekindled interest in group five is authentic.

It would be hard to justify any optimism surrounding Scotland after the wretched Vogts era but 50,000 people found the spirit to come and support Smith's team on his Hampden bow.

His team were sent into this contest with the words of Mel Gibson's William Wallace ringing in their ears as the sound of Braveheart filled the stadium. That lifted the early tempo as Scotland showed real zest in their quest for a breakthrough.

Kenny Miller came close after six minutes, nutmegging Alexei Savinov before drilling a 20-yard shot wide. Then Darren Fletcher pounced, after his pass to Lee McCulloch broke off Serghei Rogacoiv, allowing the Manchester United midfielder to thrash a shot just over the bar.

Another gallop from Fletcher down the right opened up Moldova and his measured cross looked set to be finished off by Miller, but goalkeeper Evgheni Hmaruc punched it off the striker's head.

However, Moldova absorbed that initial enthusiasm and Scotland began to lose their way in midfield. Further tinkering was required when Jackie McNamara's sore back required Dailly to take his place before the half-hour.

Most moves ended because of McCulloch's poor first touch, although the Wigan striker at least drew fouls from Moldova's rash defender, Serghei Lascencov, who was booked for one brutal lunge on McCulloch.

Scotland's frustrations could have been eased had they taken either of the chances that came their way in stoppage time in the first half but Graham Alexander's fine cross saw McCulloch and Dailly get in each other's way and then Paul Hartley's stabbed finish at the back post was kept out by Hmaruc.

However, the breakthrough would come seven minutes into the second half. The Scots' goal owed little to beauty and everything to brawn, as the robust McCulloch gathered Alexander's throw-in on the left touchline and wrestled his way past Alexandru Covalenco before stabbing the ball beyond Valeriu Catinsus to give him an unchallenged run towards the box. McCulloch unselfishly clipped a cross that ought to have been taken by Hmaruc but the goalkeeper blundered, throwing up a weak arm that could only push the ball upwards so that the vigilant Dailly could pounce and poke his shot in from two yards.

Scotland, though, almost had that advantage torn from their grasp within minutes. A deep free kick from Savinov was flicked on by Rogacoiv to Serghei Dadhu whose exquisite volley on the turn was pawed wide of the post by Craig Gordon.

It was a warning to Scotland not to settle for what they had. Then Hartley was harshly booked for a challenge on Vadim Boret, which rules him out of the trip to Belarus. Moldova, under the influence of their impressive substitute Serghei Covaliciuc, began to show greater threat and frayed nerves were soon evident around Hampden, especially when Covaliciuc's run set up Ghenadhie Olexici with 14 minutes left but his shot flew narrowly wide.

However, McFadden ended the worrying when he killed off Moldova after 88 minutes. Dailly's long ball picked out McFadden, who glanced the ball into the path of Miller and, though Miller was brought down by Savinov on the edge of the box, advantage was played by the referee to allow McFadden to go past Iuri Prigianiuc and steer a left-foot finish beyond Hmaruc.