Dire Scotland in Oslo loss

The Celtic player picked up two yellow cards within a minute in the first half, the second of which allowed John Arne Riise to fire in the opener from the resultant free-kick.

When Morten Gamst Pedersen made it 2-0 seconds before the interval it was all but over for George Burley's side. A strike by Erik Huseklepp after the break added to Scotland's misery and Pedersen scored a delightful free-kick right at the end to complete a miserable night for the Scots who drop to third in Group Nine behind Macedonia on goal difference.

Scotland now need wins in their last two qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland at Hampden next month to have any chance of a play-off spot and on the evidence of this game, hopes cannot be high.

There were around 3,500 of the Tartan Army in the Ullevaal Stadium and they may have had a goal to cheer in the sixth minute after John Carew sliced an attempted clearance from McCormack's corner across his own penalty area to Darren Fletcher. However, the Scotland skipper could not set himself quickly enough and sliced his volley from eight yards high over the bar.

A minute after Gary Caldwell had picked up a booking after clashing with Pedersen, he was dramatically sent off when referee Alain Hamar adjudged him to have fouled Carew 30 yards from goal. Scotland's misery was compounded in the cruellest way when Norway defender Riise rifled the free-kick past Marshall with the help of a massive deflection off Brown.

Defender Christophe Berra immediately replaced McCormack as Burley tried to shore up his defence but with seconds remaining in the first half, Norway grabbed number two. With the visiting defence stretched, Bjorn Helge Riise set up Pedersen who guided his left-footed shot from 14 yards past the helpless Marshall.

It looked a tall order for 10-man Scotland when the second half started and before two minutes had elapsed, Marshall had to block Carew's toe-poke when the Norway striker breached an unconvincing defensive line at the edge of the penalty area.

The game was put out of Scotland's reach on the hour mark after Carew had forced his way all too easily through Scotland's fragile defence. The big striker's stretched to get his shot away and although the ball hit both posts before rebounding back in to play, Huseklepp was on hand to bundle the ball in to the empty net.

In the final minute, after Alexander had fouled Norway substitute Per Ciljan Skjelbred 25 yards out, Pedersen neatly curled in number four.