It was always going to be the case that Scotland would avoid a historic first fifth consecutive defeat considering the strength of the opposition.

But the manner of the 6-0 thrashing of San Marino goes a little way to lift the national depression that swept in after Thursday's 4-0 drubbing in Moscow.

The real test of whether Steve Clarke's side are showing progress will come next month in Cyprus on 16 November, with Kazakhstan travelling to Hampden three days later.

Those three are contesting third place behind Belgium and Russia, who have taken the two qualification spots.

More importantly, Clarke's side will be hoping to gather momentum ahead of the Nations League play-offs in March, when they could find a back door into the Euro 2020 finals.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke pointed out that, despite all the doom and gloom over recent results and one newspaper predicting an all-time low of 10,000 at Hampden, just over double that turned up to the witness the win in Glasgow's rain-soaked south side.

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You can now read Alasdair Lamont's impressions and analysis of Scotland's win over San Marino.

Three teams have now secured their places at the Euro 2020 finals - and two of them are in Scotland's group.

Russia followed the example of Group I leaders Belgium by thrashing 10-man Cyprus 5-0 in Nicosia.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke admits that the Glasgow weather was a notable barrier for his side as they did their best to add to their goal tally in the second half.

"It was difficult to pass the ball," he tells Sky Sports. "We wanted to pass the ball. We moved the ball really well and very fast in the early part of the game, which got us in front.

"We wanted to do that in the second half, but obviously it started sticking in the puddles. We still managed to find the right passes in to the box and got some good goals for us."

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke tells Sky Sports: "It's not often a Scotland team score six goals. It's a nice reward at the end of a difficult week.

"They've got character and resilience. They were on a hiding to nothing tonight. They showed the character to come back from a bad blow.

"We're working towards an end target, which is the play-offs in March. We go to Cyprus one point behind with a chance to go above them."

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Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

Neil McCann
Former Scotland winger on BBC Sportsound

Scotland move up to fourth ahead of Kazahkstan in the group thanks to their win over San Marino.

Matches against Cyprus and Kazakhstan will determine who will finish third.

Scotland hat-trick hero John McGinn says he is "buzzing" after scoring his first career hat-trick.

"It [the win] was needed," the midfielder tells Sky Sports. "As a country, we’re hurting - the players are hurting the same way the supporters are. We all hurt the same way.

"The hat-trick is right up there. Every time you pull on the jersey, it’s a privilege and an honour.

"We’ve had our confidence dented, but in difficult conditions we've put in a good performance."

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Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Which Scotland player did you vote man of the match in the thumping win over San Marino at Hampden?

Russia finished with a flurry in Cyprus to record an impressive five-goal win.

They remain three points behind Belgium, who won earlier in Kazakhstan, in a close head-to-head to win the group.

However, both have now qualified for next summer's finals.

The final whistle goes to signal an end to a dismal four-game losing sequence for Scotland as they secure a satisfying thrashing of world football minnows San Marino.

John McGinn got the ball rolling with a first-half hat-trick and, after the game got bogged down while heavy rain put the game under threat, they finished with a late flurry.

Lawrence Shankland scored the fourth in his first Scotland start, Stuart Findlay marked his debut with a goal and Stuart Armstrong put his Southampton woes behind him with a fine free-kick.

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A nervous moment for Mikey Devlin as the centre-half loses possession in his own area, but San Marino are unable to capitalise.

A bizarre moment as San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Junior Simoncini picks the ball up outside the penalty box thinking the whistle had already gone for a foul on the half-way line.

The referee gives Scotland a free-kick after all, but in a much more dangerous position.

San Marino make another change as striker Luca Ceccaroli, who plays for amateurs Tre Penne, is sent on for his debut in place of Marco Berardi.