World Cup Euro Qual Gp 9
Scotland 2

* McCormack 39,
* Fletcher, S 65

Iceland 1

* Sigurdsson, I 54

* Andy Hunter at Hampden Park

Tension boils over at Hampden Park as Scotland's Stephen McManus clashes with Gretar Steinsson of Iceland. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

The last chance saloon resonated to ridiculous extremes for Scotland at Hampden Park. World Cup qualification was in there, so too was George Burley, whose self-preservation had not been helped by Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor drinking copiously in one throughout Sunday morning. On a fraught, excruciating night in Glasgow, however, the coach walked out unscathed and emboldened. Hopes of South Africa remain similarly intact.

Whether Scotland's errant captain and second-choice goalkeeper continue on the journey remains to be seen. Burley insisted both would be considered for future selection, although Ferguson was nowhere to be seen as Scotland clung on to Steven Fletcher's winning goal against Iceland and the coach introduced Gavin Rae, Gary Teale and even attempted to get David Clarkson on the field before the final whistle blew on a tense but deserved victory. It will be their punishment to get back into a team with far more balance and penetration than in recent outings.

"When you are making big decisions you are there to be shot at if it doesn't work," said Burley. "I thought it did work tonight. The tactics, the players and the combinations were all excellent. It doesn't always work, I wish it did, but we got it right tonight." This was Burley's victory in every sense, the decision to recall Craig Gordon vindicated gloriously in the final minute when the goalkeeper made a superb save from Hermann Hreidarsson, and his team performing as though united by the removal of disruptive influences.

Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher, who both delivered the first goals of their international careers, James Morrison and Alan Hutton were relentless, while Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus, save for one costly slip from the Celtic captain, were bruised and bloodied from excellent displays in the heart of the Scotland defence. The contest was rarely pretty, but Burley could not have received any more from the players who did not lose sight of professionalism or the task of finishing second in Group Nine.

The Scotland coach did undermine the bravery of his decision to drop Ferguson and McGregor by selecting the Rangers pair among his substitutes, though a depleted squad arguably left him little choice. It is believed influential voices within the Scottish Football Association wanted the midfielder and goalkeeper banished entirely, with the chief executive, Gordon Smith, hardly convincing in his support of Burley's actions before kick off. Yet there had to be a degree of pragmatism amid the discipline with World Cup qualification at stake and the true extent of the coach's punishment – such as stripping the fading Ferguson of the captaincy – may be for another day.

"It has been dealt with and we move on. It's done," insisted Burley, the release of victory overshadowed by the controversy with his captain. "Things have happened and it has been dealt with. The most important thing is three points for Scotland. We have kept everything alive."

Scotland began impressively, with McCormack, Morrison and Hutton to the fore down the flanks, but the tension was rising inside Hampden by the time the Cardiff City striker directed the latter's excellent cross high into the Iceland goal. A mistake by McManus allowed Palmi Palmason to turn and shoot against the inside of Gordon's post just nine minutes after the restart. Indridi Sigurdsson was on hand to convert the rebound, and doubt suddenly crept into the Scotland team and crowd. It did not last long. McManus made amends for his error when he headed a McCormack corner back across goal and Steven Fletcher was on hand to head in from close range.

Morrison twice went close to making the game safe before, in a nerve-shredding finale, Darren Fletcher and Gordon both thwarted Iceland inside the Scotland six-yard box. Scotland, and Burley, deservedly survived.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer