ACE FLETCH GOES FULL STRETCH TO SHOW WE HAVE THE WILL TO WIN

SCOTLAND deserve great credit for their ruthless display against the Faroes because we've played plenty of weak sides in the last few years and looked awful.

The Group B minnows were dreadful at Celtic Park yesterday but this was as clinical a performance as we could have wished for.

Kenny Miller was lively, Kris Boyd proved his class in front of goal and James McFadden gave another display brimming with quality.

And with Gary O'Connor netting after coming on in the second half, it meant all four strikers found the target.

It can sometimes be awkward for a team when everyone up front is hungry for goals.

They could all be tempted to hang around the penalty box but McFadden and Miller showed great discipline in keeping their width for the sake of the team.

Darren Fletcher also impressed me with his attitude especially for the opening goal. It looked a scrappy finish but the effort he made to get into the six-yard box was typical of Scotland's determination to get things right from the first whistle.

As soon as Miller skipped free on the left, Fletcher showed terrific desire to get into the danger area.

That kind of commitment was magnificent because an early breakthrough was exactly what the fans were looking for.

But the last thing we should do is go overboard on the strength of this result. The big test will come on Wednesday in Lithuania.

That will be a more even contest but if we can build on yesterday's performance with another win it will be a massive step forward.

Before a ball was kicked in these qualifiers I thought it would be realistic to challenge Georgia, Lithuania and Ukraine for third place in the group.

A six-goal victory against a part-time side doesn't change that view.

Surely no one expects us to compete with Italy and France to reach the Euro Finals in Switzerland and Austria?

The French and Italians have tremendous strength in depth and we can't compete at their level.

We desperately want to see our players develop but let's not be too quick to hold them up as the finished article.

Look what happened to our Under-21 side on Friday night against the best the French have to offer.

As Under-21 coach Maurice Malpas admitted, the French passed us off the park. Chances are the Italians would do the same.

When the senior side heads for Lithuania let's see how the defence copes with a more physical battle.

Will we be able to do a solid defensive job and threaten at the same time?

We're a better side than Lithuania but players like Hearts duo Deividas Cesnauskis and Edgaras Jankauskas have given us problems before.

If we can get another three points in Vilnius maybe we can start to dream about challenging Italy, France and Ukraine for qualification.

But it will be one hell of a battle against Lithuania.

Everton star McFadden was immense against the Faroes but it will be hard for him to be as effective away from home.

He's not blessed with great defensive qualities but maybe we need to accept that and let him do what he's good at.

Scotland need to give Faddy the ball and let him make things happen.

If McFadden plays well, Scotland play well.

But every manager who speaks about him asks the same question.

What's his best position and where do you play him when you need a disciplined away performance?

If Walter Smith can fit him into the starting line up against Lithuania - and we look as threatening as we did yesterday - maybe this campaign will mark the beginning of a Scotland resurgence.

However, outright qualification is still too much to ask for in such a tough group. We're getting there under Smith but it will take time for us to split countries of the quality of Italy, France and Ukraine.

Taken from the Sunday Mail