Scotland beaten in Georgia

After six wins on the trot, Alex McLeish's ran out of luck in the Boris Paichadze national stadium which almost burst with Georgian pride as the home side registered only their third victory of the campaign.

Georgia's 17-year-old striker Levan Mchedlidze, making his first start for is country, headed the home side in to the lead after 16 minutes and David Siradze drilled home number two in the 65th minute to stifle any prospect of a comeback.

Although McLeish's side battled on, it is against the World Cup holders next month that they will learn if they are to qualify for their first major finals since 1998.

Amid a scrappy opening, in-form James McFadden had turned a Kenny Miller cross just past the near post which looked to stabilise the Scots, playing in their new maroon away kit, but they looked out of sorts in the 16th minute when they found themselves a goal behind from a set-piece.

Giorgi Shashiashvili's corner came in from the left and it was Mchedlidze who rose between Alexander and David Weir to bullet a header past Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon from eight yards out.

The Scots floundered in the ensuing minutes, gasping for inspiration and it almost came on the half-hour mark when central defender Stephen McManus escaped his marker at a McFadden corner only to head over from close range.

Scotland, brighter and less intimidated, were pushing almost carelessly at times for the equaliser and when McManus fouled Levan Kenia to prevent a breakaway, Gordon was called in to action to tip David Kvirkvelia's free-kick over the bar.

The visitors survived the corner but their punishment was suspended only to the 65th minute when they lost the second goal.

Kvirkvelia took on Graeme Murty down the right and his perfect cut-back was tucked away by Siradze.