GEORGE Burley survived to fight another day as Scotland manager as goals from Scott Brown and James McFadden secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Macedonia to keep their World Cup play-off hopes alive.
Pressure had been mounting on Burley since last month's 4-0 thrashing in Norway left the nation's chances of qualifying for next summer's finals in South Africa in the balance and he knew defeat at Hampden today could have spelled the end of his tenure.
But the Scots rose to the challenge after a nervous first half had ended goalless when Brown claimed his first international goal after the restart and McFadden ensured the victory late on ahead of another crunch match on Wednesday night against Holland.
Scotland's hopes in Group Nine were further boosted after Norway could only draw 1-1 with Iceland in Reykjavik.
John Arne Riise had put the visitors ahead with a sweetly-struck free-kick after 10 minutes before Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised on the half-hour to deny Norway three precious points.
Norway striker John Carew was unlucky not to have been awarded a second half penalty, but it would have been more than they deserved.
But the Scots rose to the challenge after a nervous first half had ended goalless when Brown claimed his first international goal after the restart and McFadden ensured the victory late on ahead of another crunch match on Wednesday night against Holland.
Scotland's hopes in Group Nine were further boosted after Norway could only draw 1-1 with Iceland in Reykjavik.
John Arne Riise had put the visitors ahead with a sweetly-struck free-kick after 10 minutes before Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised on the half-hour to deny Norway three precious points.
Norway striker John Carew was unlucky not to have been awarded a second half penalty, but it would have been more than they deserved.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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