Naismith: The spectre of Liechtenstein will drive Scotland on

The memories of a traumatic tussle with Liechtenstein will help drive Scotland on against Gibraltar tonight.

It was four-and-a-half years ago that the country came within seconds of what would have been one of the most embarrassing results in its football history.

At home and playing a Euro 2012 qualifier against a minnow then ranked 141st in the world, Craig Levein’s men required a 97th-minute winner from the unlikely source of Stephen McManus to secure a 2-1 victory.

And with the nucleus of that side Steven Naismith, Allan McGregor, Alan Hutton, Darren Fletcher, James Morrison and Scott Brown still in place, the first named insists there will be no repeat this time.

“Everyone says this is a foregone conclusion but, as players, we know exactly how difficult they can turn out to be,” he said.

“We have had tough matches against the Faroes in the past but Liechtenstein is probably the best example.

“For these kinds of occasions, the ones you are expected to win by five or six goals, people might go into them thinking: We’ve got 90 minutes, we’ve got ages.

“Then before you know it it’s half-time. Then 10 or 15 minutes of the second half are gone. That’s when it starts getting edgy.

“It only takes a mistake or a slip for them to get in and maybe take a chance which is exactly what they did.

“Then all of sudden you are looking at a terrible result.

“Happily, we got the result in the end. I came on as a second-half substitute and I can remember my overwhelming emotion being one of relief because it is one of those where we thought our chance had gone.

“So the lesson that teaches is that you’ve got to be 100% committed and focused on these games.

“We’ve got an experienced bunch here who are well aware what is needed and carry a bit of momentum behind us.

“Let’s hope that Sunday is a good performance, and that has been the case in this campaign good, honest performances with some good football.

“It would be nice to do it the straightforward way, that’s what the boys are aiming for.”

Gordon Strachan has suggested his players might get as little as three minutes of grace from a Hampden crowd desperate to see the national side close in on next year’s Euro finals.

It is not a view the 28-year-old Everton star shares with his manager.

“I think the fans will be realistic,” he said with a smile.

“They will understand that if we’re playing at a good tempo and knocking the ball about well, making Gibraltar have to work very hard to stay with us then the goals will come.

“And doing that will calm them down, calm everyone down really and make it a good and enjoyable day.

“At the start, though, we’ll need to be at our best and start the tie the right way.”