Scots in cruise control against Faroes

Three first-half goals Tuesday saw an experimental Scotland side cruise to a 3-0 friendly win over the Faroe Islands in Aberdeen as three players scored their first international goals.

Craig Levein’s initial 20-man squad was hit by a raft of withdrawals but their replacements impressed on a night where seven players made their Scotland debuts.

It was one of those debutants, Liverpool’s Danny Wilson, who fired Scotland into a 24th-minute lead before Kris Commons flicked home the impressive Charlie Adam’s cross after half an hour.

Queen’s Park Rangers striker Jamie Mackie was handed the lone striker’s role and he celebrated his first goal for his country when he knocked in from a couple of yards out just before the break.

“I saw some performances tonight which gave me some encouragement and that was the purpose of the match,” the Scotland boss said.

“People will say we were only playing against the Faroe Islands but we’ve been here before and played against teams of a similar standard and haven’t performed to a decent level.

“It was pleasing and there’s guys who have firmly established themselves in my thoughts for future matches.”

Scotland made a raft of changes in the second-half and despite several changes couldn’t add to their first-half total.

At Pittodrie, Shaun Maloney was the only Scottish-based player in an experimental starting line-up.

The hosts were given a scare early on when Jann Inge Petersen’s 25-yard free-kick crashed off the corner of the crossbar with Craig Gordon beaten.

Darren Fletcher had Scotland’s first real chance in the 24th minute when his low drive was turned round the post by Gunnar Nielsen and from the resultant corner Scotland took the lead.

Blackpool’s Adam whipped in an in-swinging corner from the right and Wilson got in front of Joan Simun Edmundsson to volley home from six yards.

With half an hour gone another good delivery from Adam helped Scotland double their lead. Adam’s initial corner was only partially cleared and at the second attempt he sent in a cross to the near post with pace for Derby man Commons to flick the ball into the net past Nielsen.

Barry Bannan cracked an angled low drive off the base of the post before Mackie made it 3-0 seconds from the break. Bannan’s cross to the back post was headed on by Wilson and the Queen’s Park Rangers striker poked it in from a couple of yards out.

“I am delighted to get my first goal under my belt. It was a worthwhile exercise and I really enjoyed myself and could have had a couple more on the night,” Mackie said.

“That’s the first time I’ve played up front for Scotland and I showed that’s what I’m about, poaching in the six-yard box, and it’s brilliant for my confidence.”

Tranmere Rovers keeper Nielsen pulled off a superb save to stop a fierce strike from Stephen Crainey sneaking in before Adam went off injured as James McArthur made his Scotland debut.

Villa midfielder Bannan headed over from six yards after connecting with Mackie’s cross before Maloney failed to take advantage of a poor backpass when he sent an attempted chip wide of the post.