Gibraltar vs Scotland match report: Steven Fletcher gives Scots reason to rue Euro 2016 qualifier slip-ups

Gibraltar 0 Scotland 6

Steven Fletcher points to the sky in celebration of one of his three goals against Gibraltar (Getty Images)

A Steven Fletcher hat-trick – only Scotland’s second in 46 years – plus goals from Chris Martin, Shaun Maloney and Steven Naismith, gave Gordon Strachan’s side a convincing win over Gibraltar on the rain-soaked Algarve.

Scotland made seven changes to the team that suffered last-minute heartache against Poland last Thursday but were backed by a noisy travelling contingent of fans, who chanted manager Strachan’s name.

As early as the second minute, Maloney, looking certain to convert a Fletcher pass, was thwarted by Gibraltar defender Erin Barnett.

Fletcher headed over an Alan Hutton cross before Jamie Robba blocked a Maloney drive with his legs, the Gibraltar keeper then making a decent save from Fletcher’s drive from 14 yards on the turn.

In the 23rd minute, Robba made a fantastic save from Maloney’s close-range header, pushing the ball past the post for a corner, but from the set-piece the Scots took the lead. Matt Ritchie’s cross was helped on by Greer and Martin knocked it in from almost on the line.

As expected against a side which had lost each of their nine previous qualifiers – shipping 50 goals in the process – Scotland bossed possession and Fletcher had struck the woodwork before Maloney curled in a fine second from inside the box with six minutes of the first half remaining.

Aston Villa right-back Hutton was instrumental in Scotland’s third goal, ending another burst forward by standing up a cross for Fletcher to power in a header past Robba. The away fans were cheering again four minutes later when the Sunderland striker steered in his second, his left-footed shot from 14 yards going in off the far post.

Fletcher completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute before Naismith finished off the rout with a goal in added time.

Gibraltar had a flurry of forays upfield but could not find that final pass that would reward them with a goal to match their first competitive strike at Hampden in the 6-1 defeat in March.