Scotland captain Darren Fletcher passed a late fitness test on a thigh injury as boss Gordon Strachan made three changes for the game against Slovakia.

Striker Steven Fletcher took over up front from Chris Martin for the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho in Trnava.

Left-back Kieran Tierney came in for Andy Robertson while midfielder James McArthur replaced Oliver Burke.

The Tartan Army have been complaining of a horrible sense of deja vu since dropping two crucial points against Lithuania on Saturday, with the fear that another qualifying campaign was in danger of going awry the concern just two games in.

But Scotland's opponents were also under pressure to bounce back after Slovakia slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Slovenia on Saturday.

Strachan's team should have played on those home nerves inside the opening quarter of an hour when Robert Snodgrass picked out Steven Fletcher with a sublime ball from deep on the left, only for the Sheffield Wednesday target man to fluff his header.

But it was Slovakia who settled quicker and they came close when Jan Durica tested the reactions of David Marshall from long range.

The Hull keeper got away with his spill on that occasion, but was not so lucky after 18 minutes when he failed to hold a Marek Hamsik header, pushing the ball out to Robert Mak who lashed it into the net. The Scots had argued Steven Fletcher had been fouled in the build-up but Swedish referee Martin Strombergsson gave the goal.

Snodgrass had a chance to level moments later but could not steer past Slovakian stopper Matus Kozacik at the near post.

That near miss was a sign that Scotland were not ready to fold as Strachan's side responded in positive fashion.

Tierney got himself forward and sent a low strike just wide of the target, while Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie was being given an encouraging amount of space down the right.

At times it did not look like the Slovakians were a team who should be 16 places better off in the FIFA rankings than the Scots as they dropped deep looking to frustrate - although the visitors lacked the individual quality that the likes of Napoli ace Hamsik and Mak were producing on the counter.

The latter came close to a second goal as he cut in from the left before sweeping a dangerous shot towards the top corner - Marshall this time getting a good hand to the ball before blocking Durica's effort from the resulting corner.

INTRO: Scotland had it all to do if they are not to suffer another blow to their Russia 2018 ambitions after allowing Slovakia to claim a 1-0 half-time lead in Trvana.

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Robert Mak smashed the hosts ahead in the 18th minute after David Marshall failed to hold a Marek Hamsik header.

Gordon Stachan's side responded well to that disappointment though, and almost had an instant reply when home keeper Matus Kozacik got a block on a Robert Snodgrass strike.

Scotland needed to maintain the pressure they had built in the latter stages of the first period as the second kicked-off but walked out to find the home side with a renewed focus.

And Slovakia capitalised on that determination within 11 minutes of the restart.

Callum Paterson found himself caught in the middle of a pincer movement down the left, with Hamsik slipping the ball to Jakub Holubek as the Hearts right-back tried to close down.

Holubek's cutback was well-timed to reach Mak, who left Russell Martin rolling about on the turf with a clever drop of the shoulder before tucking away another well-placed finish past Marshall.

Strachan threw on Ikechi Anya and Leigh Griffiths as he looked for a spark of resistance. He thought he had it when Barry Bannan leapt on a loose ball at the edge of the box but Kozacik held it easily.

But all hope was firmly snuffed out with 23 minutes left when Nemec was left free by Paterson and Grant Hanley to get on the end of Mak's in-swinging corner and thump a header past Marshall.

Strachan has faced repeated calls to start Griffiths up front but steadfastly refused to bow to those Tartan Army demands. The Celtic striker's late involvement though will only see the boss face more questions as his pace and movement finally gave the Slovakians something to worry about.

He almost helped himself to a goal, first firing wide after being put in by substitute John McGinn before whipping another effort straight at Kozacik.

But in the end Scotland limped to the final whistle as the realisation dawned that their long wait to reach a major finals looks set to go on.

INTRO: Scotland's hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup already appear to be in severe doubt after a damaging 3-0 defeat to Slovakia in Trvana.

After slipping up with a draw at home to Lithuania on Saturday, Gordon Strachan's side were looking to bounce back.

But a double from Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Robert Mak left the Scots toiling before Adam Nemec rubbed salt into the wounds with a third midway through the second half.

Scotland now head to Wembley next month to face Group F leaders England but after taking just four points from their opening three games even an unlikely victory over the Auld Enemy may not be enough to salvage their qualifying bid.