Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the World Cup qualifying clash between Scotland and Malta at Hampden Park. The hosts require three more points in Glasgow this evening to remain on course for a top-two finish in Group F, having recently got their campaign back on track with a timely three-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures.

The Tartan Army have been heavily backed to get the job done tonight; comfortably, too, judging by the pre-match odds. Malta are the third-worst side in Europe going by FIFA's latest rankings, ahead of only San Marino and Gibraltar. Scotland also require a favour from the Auld Enemy elsewhere tonight, meanwhile, with second-placed Slovakia - four points better off with three games to go - facing England at Wembley Stadium.

SCOTLAND TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Gordon, Tierney, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Brown, Forrest, Armstrong, McArthur, Phillips, Griffiths

SUBS: Archer, McGregor, Anya, Hanley, R.Martin, Fraser, McGinn, Morrison, Ritchie, Snodgrass, C.Martin

Starting with a look at the home team, it comes as no real surprise to see boss Gordon Strachan stick with the same XI that performed so well in Vilnius last Friday. Three points and three goals would have further boosted his side's confidence heading into this home banker, and the same XI will run out from the off at Hampden Park this evening. That means either a 4-2-3-1 formation of 4-3-3, depending on which way you look at it.

Leigh Griffiths will start through the middle, with support offered from the flanks by James Forrest and Matty Phillips. Stuart Armstrong, who opened the scoring against Lithuania with his third goal of the campaign, will play just off clubmate Griffiths, while Scott Brown and James McArthur are tasked with sitting deep. Could Strachan have gone a little more attacking? Possibly, but he will feel that the three goals scored in Vilnius can at least be matched tonight.

Barry Bannan, Tom Cairney and Steven Fletcher have all withdrawn from the squad, though Strachan has had a full group in training over the past couple of days. A number of players are one booking away from an automatic one-match suspension, meanwhile, which is pretty daunting when Slovakia - the pivotal fixture of the campaign - are the next visitors here. Those watching their backs over the next couple of hours are Griffiths, Grant Hanley, Charlie Mulgrew, McArthur and Brown.

MALTA TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Hogg, Magri, S Borg, Agius, R. Fenech, Schembri, Z Muscat, Kristensen, Zerafa, Effiong, Pisani

SUBS: Bonello, A.Muscat, Failla, P.Fenech, Mifsud, Gambin, Farrugia, C.Borg, Johnson

Malta have included a couple of English-based players in their squad, with Sam Magri of Ebbsfleet Town being handed a start and Luton Town's Luke Gambin among the subs. Record goalscorer Michael Mifsud, another player well known to a British audience, is also included in the 20-man squad, many members of which ply their trade in the Maltese top flight - skipper Andre Schembri of Apollon Limassol a rare exception.

Heading into the eighth round of fixtures in Group F, Scotland find themselves in third place and still four points adrift of Slovakia. Top spot is surely now out of the question, with leaders England six points better off, so the Tartan Army will be hoping that the Three Lions stick to the script and overcome Slovakia at Wembley Stadium this evening. Qualification is still very much on, though they will need a helping hand along the way.

Qualification looked to be out of the question earlier this year, however, following a slow start that saw the Scots draw at home to Lithuania and lose 3-0 back-to-back to Slovakia and England, having initially kicked things off with a 5-1 win in this reverse fixture. Simply not good enough, leading to serious questions of Strachan who looked likely to be a few minutes from being sacked in March before Chris Martin popped up with a late goal against Slovenia here.

Had the Derby County striker not found a way through shortly after coming off the bench - to a rendition of boos, it has to be said - the qualifying campaign would have been all but over. Scotland followed up that late win with a battling 2-2 draw against England here and then a 3-0 victory over Lithuania last time out. It sets them up nicely for this match, which on paper is the easiest of the lot - any sort of upset is surely unthinkable.

Should things go to plan, Scotland will move to within one point of Slovakia ahead of their crunch clash here on October 5. That could well be a straight shootout for second place, with just one round of fixtures left to play following that showdown in Glasgow. The Tartan Army head to Slovenia, which is far from an easy game to conclude, while the Slovaks face Malta at home - three points essentially in the bag.

DID YOU KNOW? Scotland have won all five meetings against tonight's opponents, including that aforementioned 5-1 win when they last faced off at the Ta'Qali National Stadium a year ago to take their average to three goals a game. Malta do not like this part of the world, meanwhile, failing to score in nine visits to Britain and Ireland and conceding a total of 36.

Malta, who are now managed by former Italy assistant Pietro Ghedin, find themselves 190th in the latest FIFA rankings - 132 places below their opponents. As mentioned a little earlier, only Gibraltar and San Marino are ranked lower in the UEFA system, though they did net one of their only two goals of the campaign against Scotland in that 5-1 defeat - something to hold on to, perhaps!

They have yet to earn a point on the road to Russia 2018 meaning that, unsurprisingly, they can no longer finish in the top two. Malta have one win in their last 19 matches, coming in a friendly against Ukraine on home soil a few months back. They did manage to hold out for 85 minutes against England last Friday before completely crumbling, with just the one goal in it up until that point.

The pre-match anthems are over and done with at Hampden Park, but before kickoff let us first check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Gordon Strachan: "I think the fans and most of the press would understand how important this game is going to be, in real patience. We have to have patience and we expect that from the crowd as well. Lithuania came at us, tried to score goals. I am sure Malta will do that but will find it easier to defend than attack."

Pietro Ghedin: "It is not easy. We are a small country and Scotland are in good condition. Scotland have improved a lot. I saw the game against Lithuania and they played really well and they deserved to win even by five goals. They are strong and they have the possibility to get second in the group. We will try to give our best, as we do every time."

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KICKOFF! We are up and running in Glasgow, where Scotland are looking to remain on course for a top-two finish. Anything less than victory will kill off those hopes, though that would take an almighty upset from Malta.

As expected, the home side are completely dominating play in the opening stages here. Malta happy to sit back as they attempt to stifle their opponents - ranked 132 places above them in the FIFA system - for as long as possible.

UPDATE! England trail Slovakia at Wembley with three minutes on the clock, through a Stanislav Lobotka goal. That is not the way tonight was meant to begin, though there is a long, long way to go both in London and Glasgow.

SHOT! Good attempt from Armstrong, who opened the scoring in Vilnius a few days back with a fine individual effort. The midfielder slightly dragged it from around 20 yards out, though, and the ball did not require a touch from Andrew Hogg on its way through.

BLOCK! Scotland really should be in front here, as Hogg could not deal with Philipps's cross, which Griffiths could not turn home from five yards out under pressure. McArthur then blasted it from a few yards further back but it was brilliantly blocked.

SAVE! There is a bit of a theme developing here. Griffiths's shot inside the box was blocked as far as James Forrest, whose attempt was pushed aside by Hogg for a corner. Complete dominating from the home side early on.

As simple as you like for Scotland, as Berra climbs highest at the back post to nod a corner past Hogg. Not sure if a goal can be deserved after just 10 minutes, but in this case it is fair to say that the Tartan Army have started very impressively.

Group F makes for interesting reading right now. Slovakia are top, one point ahead of England and four in front of Scotland. The Tartan Army, for possibly the first time ever, are desperate for the Three Lions to bag a couple of goals.

CLOSE! Half of Hampden Park was celebrating as Armstrong blasted the ball towards goal. The net bulged but it was the side-netting he picked out, rather than the part in-between the sticks. Scotland closing in on a second of the night.

Goal difference could well come into the mix come the end of the campaign, particularly when taking the complicated playoff system into the mix. Strachan will want to see his side stick four or five on the Falcons in the remaining 73 minutes or so.

Griffiths goes for goal from range, sending the ball a fair bit wide of the target. Scotland still completely in control of the match, though it is not quite as one-sided as it was in the 10 minutes leading up to their breakthrough goal.

Malta enjoying their best spell of the match, culminating in a corner which Scotland manage to deal with. Armstrong has picked up a knock to his foot in a challenge on the touchline, which he should be able to shake off.

More than a quarter of the match now played and Scotland are good value for their lead. Griffiths does well when drifting towards the right and the ball is played into a central position, where Forest cannot quite get on the end of it.

Scotland win themselves another corner kick, which is this time nodded over the crossbar by opening goalscorer Berra. Not quite the same urgency to the home side's game since they edged in front a little over nine minutes in.

Good play from Scotland, as Griffiths and Armstrong link up in and around the opposition box before the ball comes in from the left. The cross is cut out for yet another corner - this time it is worked short and not a lot comes of it.

UPDATE! Josip Ilicic has given Slovenia the lead at home to Lithuania, which does not alter Group F all that much. The only change in position has come at the summit, where Slovakia have overtaken England into top spot.

The Tartan Army are continuing to knock the ball around with ease, taking on the odd shot but not doing enough to find a way past Hogg for a second time. Phillips gets in behind down the right but cannot pick out a teammate in the middle.

YELLOW CARD! Ryan Fenech is cautioned for a cynical foul, ruling him out of his side's next outing - a home match against Lithuania in October. Leigh Griffiths, the two-goal hero vs. England, sends the free kick high over the bar.

Schembri with a half-decent delivery into the Scotland box, which Gordon was able to collect. One or two audible groans around Hampden Park, which will remain the case for as long as there is just the one goal in the match.

Atmosphere inside Hampden Park is incredibly flat at the moment - understandable, I guess. A second Scotland goal before the break will make a big difference, but they have failed to make the most of another couple of corners in quick-succession.

UPDATE! Berra probably should have done better from that last corner, nodding wide when again left unmarked. More importantly for the home fans - England are level against Slovakia through Eric Dier, six minutes or so before the break.

Strachan would have hoped for, and expected, a second goal before the half-time interval after seeing his side start so brightly. That does not look like being the case at the moment, though, with Malta enjoying a positive spell of their own.

It is turning into a bit of a frustrating half for the hosts, who have been dominant pretty much throughout but have seen the chances dry up. Deservedly ahead but they will want a second sooner rather than later in front of a quiet Hampden Park crowd.

SAVE! A rare attempt on goal from winger Matty Phillips, sending a dipping shot in front of Hogg. The Malta keeper just about managed to keep it out, from what will likely be the final meaningful act of the opening 45 minutes.

Scotland take a one-goal lead into the break through a Christophe Berra header nine minutes in. The hosts have been dominant and are good value for their lead, but boss Gordon Strachan will perhaps be a little disappointing that there is still just the one goal in it at this midway point.

Stuart Armstrong, who opened the scoring for his side in the 3-0 win over Lithuania last time out, tried his luck with a decent attempt from range to get the ball rolling for the hosts. It was one-way traffic before the goal eventually arrived, with Leigh Griffiths failing to make contact from close range and James McArthur seeing the follow-up attempt blocked in front of goal after keeper Andrew Hogg fluffed his lines.

A towering header from Christophe Berra opened the scoring for the Scots nine minutes in, climbing above his man to get the ball over the line from one of a number of first-half chances for the centre-back. Chances then came and went for James Forrest and Armstrong, the former of whom forced a decent stop out of Hogg, while Matty Phillips's shot dipped in front of the visiting keeper to give him something to think about.

For all Scotland's dominance they could not make their possession truly count, however, as Malta - without a win in 21 competitive outings and ranked a lowly 190 in the FIFA rankings - held out for the interval with just the one goal in it. Strachan will unlikely make any changes at the interval, even if his side could ideally do with another couple of goals, though expect that to change come the hour mark if it remains the same.

SCOTLAND SUBS: Archer, McGregor, Anya, Hanley, R.Martin, Fraser, McGinn, Morrison, Ritchie, Snodgrass, C.Martin

MALTA SUBS: Bonello, A.Muscat, Failla, P.Fenech, Mifsud, Gambin, Farrugia, C.Borg, Johnson

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RESTART! Scotland get us back under way at Hampden Park. Strachan did indeed turn to his bench during the 15-minute break, bringing on James Morrison for James McArthur in midfield as he goes in search of another couple of goals.

Bright start to the second half for Scotland, much like in the first, but they can only muster a weak attempt goalwards through Griffiths. Hogg was there to collect, prolonging the home side's frustrations in this Group F qualifier.

Some breathing space for Scotland at long last as Morrison slides in for what appeared to be a simple finish, only to hit the post. Griffiths was there to tap the ball a few inches over the line, however, getting a deserved reward for his hard work.

Having seen a replay of that Griffiths goal, he may have been a tad fortunate for the goal to stand. He was marginally offside, though the initial shot may have taken a slight deflection off a Malta player before it hit the post and bounced back to him.

SAVE! James Forrest cuts the ball onto his left boot and attempts to pick out the bottom corner from 20 yards or so out. Good stop from visiting keeper Hogg down to his left to concede a corner, from which Scotland fail to convert.

SCOTLAND SUB! Charlie Mulgrew has been taken off and Grant Hanley introduced in his place in the hosts' second alteration of the night. Two-goal lead for the Tartan Army now but they will be hoping to double that in the remainder.

UPDATE! Scotland may be heading for a straightforward victory here, but the night had not exactly been going to plan. That has all changed now, though, thanks to a Rashford goal at Wembley to put England 2-1 in front against Slovakia.

UPDATE! Scotland, who are pushing for a third without getting anywhere close, are now one point behind Slovakia - the next visitors here in a month's time - in the Group F standings. Slovenia are also one point behind, having just bagged a second at home to Lithuania.

Qualification for the 2018 is very much in Scotland's hands at this point, then - keep winning games and they will be on the plane to Russia next summer. Tierney with an audacious attempt which was never going to test Hogg between the sticks.

SAVE! Not the end of the world if the result stays this way - Strachan simply wanted to get the job done, and that they have surely done. Griffiths was through and should have added a third, but his shot was straight at Hogg.

Forrest is unable to control the ball when picked out by Robertson inside the box, before the follow-up shot was curled wide from range. Griffiths, who missed a big chance a few moments ago, is now down on the floor after picking up an injury.

SCOTLAND SUB! Griffiths is unable to shake off that injury, which appears to be to his shin, and has been replaced by Chris Martin - the hero here against Slovenia - with 20 minutes of the contest left to play in Glasgow.

MALTA SUB! A reminder than Malta are without a goal in nine previous visits to Britain and Ireland, conceding 36 goals prior to tonight. The Falcons have just made their first change of the night - Schembri being replaced by Gambin of Luton Town.

Scotland continuing to push hard for a third goal, which would boost their goal difference, but they are not looking likely to grab it at this rate. Not enough quality in the final third since bagging a second through Griffiths.

SAVE! Almost a goal back for Malta, who only have a couple to their name all campaign. Joseph Zerafa with a well-hit shot from the angle, which Gordon was simply happy to parry away. Alfred Effiong could not react quick enough,

Unlikely to be any late jitters for Scotland at this rate, with Malta creating just the one opening all night which Zerafa could not quite bury. Visiting boss Pietro Ghedin will be happy enough with his side's showing tonight.

Morrison is unhappy after being pulled back when charging into the box - he has a shout, but the referee appeared to get the call correct. Ten minutes of the match to go for Scotland to extend their lead in front of a half-empty Hampden.

Armstrong was unable to get a shot away when charging on to the ball on the edge of the area. Malta have enjoyed the odd spell in this second half without really making it count, with Zerafa coming closest to netting for them.

UPDATE! Slovenia have a third at home to Lithuania; Benjamin Verbic adding to two earlier Josip Ilicic goals. England are still 2-1 up against Slovakia in the other Group F encounter at Wembley with less than 10 minutes to play.

MALTA SUBS! Another couple of changes made by Ghedin, as he brings on Fenech and Muscat for Kristensen and Borg. Some fresh legs to see this one out, while Scotland have other ideas and are chasing a third goal of the night.

SHOT! Phillips with another strike, which was always rising over Hogg's bar. Three minutes of normal time to play at Hampden Park and we are likely to have a further three or four added on before the full-time whistle sounds.

Scotland fans urging their side on for a third. Even without it, it is a case of job done as their side have picked up victory and Slovakia are on the brink of losing to England elsewhere in Group F. It will go right down to the wire.

Three minutes have been added on by the match officials. Think both teams are happy to here the whistle at the moment, as this one has been petering out for the best part of 25 minutes now. A late third for either side would be a surprise.

The referee blows his whistle for full time, meaning a rather straightforward 2-0 win for Scotland. The Tartan Army had chances to extend their lead, though in the end they will just be grateful to have got the job done against Malta, coupled with defeat for Slovakia elsewhere to leave the race for second place in Group F wide open.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Hampden Park. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while a recap of England's 2-1 win over Slovakia elsewhere in Group F tonight can be viewed here. Thanks for joining!