A goal in each half was enough for Scotland to finish their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high as they beat Croatia.

Robert Snodgrass headed the hosts in front as he met Charlie Mulgrew's cross to beat keeper Stipe Pletikosa.

The Croats should have been level before half time when Mario Mandzukic peeled away from Alan Hutton in the box, only to smash his shot into the ground and over the crossbar.

Scotland looked largely untroubled after the interval but failed to pose an attacking threat in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

They almost conceded an equaliser when Russell Martin and Grant Hanley failed to deal with a through that reached Eduardo, but the former Arsenal man hit the side-netting with a weak effort after rounding McGregor.

Scotland found their feet in the attacking third and found reward when Ikechi Anya tormented Domagoj Vida and was brought down by the defender to earn a penalty.

Barry Bannan stepped up and drew an impressive save from Pletikosa but Everton forward Steven Naismith was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

The result, combined with Wales's defeat in Belgium, see Scotland finish fourth in Group A and finally register a home win in their qualifying campaign.

Despite the defeat, Croatia do make the playoffs as results in other groups didn't go against them.

Written by
Chris O'Keefe