Such was the oddness of the evening that the biggest cheers inside Hampden came in reaction to what was happening at Wembley.

Scotland fans cheering a England goals might seem as likely as, well, Scotland actually making it back to the finals of a major international tournament, but there was no sense of reproach as the Tartan Army celebrated Eric Dier’s leveller and Marcus Rashford’s England winner.

At the close of play last night, England are coasting their way to a Russian invite, while the dog-fight for the play-off place is intensifying between second-placed Slovakia, third-placed Slovenia third and fourth placed Scotland. Just one point separates the triumvirate who are battling it out for that second spot.

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They started well enough at Hampden, with the same starting XI that cruised to a win over Lithuania on Friday night, charged with maintaining the same form against Malta.

There a decent tempo in the early exchanges but when news filtered through that Slovakia had taken the lead against England, there was a flatness, a flatness that was punctured briefly by Christophe Berra netting the opener from Leigh Griffiths’ corner.

It rose in the second period as Scotland took control of the game and at least offered the possibility of a late flurry of excitement that could yet lead to a play-off spot.

As England turned it around, Scotland’s ship seems at the very least to be steered towards the tantalising possibility of clinching something that seemed entirely improbable not too long ago. Although, you’d like to think that for the visit of Slovakia to Hampden next month the place will be rocking for the penultimate game of the group.

Prohibitive seat prices meant there were vast swathes of empty seats inside a dreary looking Hampden.

It did not take long, at least, for the hosts to give those who had made it along something to cheer.

Prior to Berra’s opener both Stuart Armstrong and Griffiths had come close to finding the net as Scotland looked to claim an early advantage.

The game seemed to trundle along towards the interval, with Gordon Strachan making changes as the break as James Morrison took over from James McArthur.

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The game had barely restarted that Scotland had doubled their advantage. There was a whiff of offside about a goal whose build-up play was particularly impressive – Armstrong and Andy Robertson exchanging passes before Morrison’s shot bounced off the post – but there was little to dissuade Griffiths from enjoying the celebrations.

The Celtic striker was first to react as the ball bounced off the woodwork, nipping in to slot the ball into the net and while he looked as though he was in an offside position there were few within the Scotland camp complaining.

As they were in search of more, James Forrest was denied adding his name to the scoresheet when he had an effort turned behind the post after Matt Philips had teed him up on the edge of the area.

There was an interesting stat that emerged in the aftermath of Scotland’s second goal, with Griffiths directly involved in 6 of Scotland's last 7 goals in World Cup qualifying with three goals and three assists.

Certainly, the growing maturity of the player in terms of his awareness and hold up play has been married to an instinctive finish. He did not start this group as Strachan’s favoured striker but he has most certainly imposed himself there as the campaign reaches its climax.

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It says much, too, about his role at Celtic that the sight of Griffiths hobbling off after picking up an injury would not have been well received at club level.

The Parkhead side are back in action against Hamilton Accies on Friday night but it is the forthcoming Champions League game against PSG next Tuesday that would have featured in the mind of Brendan Rodgers as Griffiths headed off to take his season in the dug-out.

By that time his evening was done with Scotland easing their way to another win, a victory that means they have now taken ten points from a possible 12 from their last four games. The haunting aspect of that late Harry Kane goal at Hampden in June could resonate even further depending on how these final two games pan out for Scotland.

Certainly, though, the one aspect about this Scotland team is that they have produced more fight and heart than was ever anticipated when this campaign got off to an inauspicious start.

Immediately prior to Griffiths’ exit there was another enforced change for Scotland with Charlie Mulgrew having to go off after he came off worse in a collision between Scott Brown and Alfred Effiong. The Maltese midfielder seemed to land on Mulgrew but it was a kick out at Brown that irked the Scotland skipper.

The duo had exchanged pleasantries earlier in the game and continued their battle as the game progressed. In many ways it would have seemed sensible to hook Brown earlier in the game – the captain being just one booking away from a suspension – as he and Effiong ran their personal duel in the middle of the park.

Still, though, he prevailed to make it through as did Scotland.

Going into the final two games, it is entirely within Scotland's grasp to take second spot if they take maximum points from their final two games.