Scotland Under-21s.... 2 Latvia Under-21s.... 4

To be optimistic, perhaps the Latvians have got the only victory they are going to get on Scottish soil. To be even more optimistic perhaps the current senior squad will sart taking monkey glands and will play for another 10 years.

It is early days, but the future does not look bright, and it certainly does not look dark blue. Scotland's developing talents were comprehensively beaten 4-2 by their Latvian counter-parts at Almondvale Stadium, in a game in which they gave away goals, and proved they could not consolidate even when they had come back into contention against 10 men.

At least the match marked the end of a dismal campaign for coach Tommy Craig, and lets him know how big the task of re-building the team actually is.

''There is no doubt that this has been the most disappointing campaign in my time, both in terms of results and performances,'' Craig said. ''I am adamant what we are trying to do is right and that the players are going through a learning process. But it is a painful one. We self-destructed.''

The best example of that came after just nine minutes. Latvia's Nikolajs Polakovs hit a 20-yard right foot shot which appeared to be straight at Scotland goalkeeper David Matheson. He held out his hands to catch it, but the ball dropped from his grasp, bounced and found a way through his legs for the opening goal.

In a performance more usually associated with Scottish goalkeepers at Wembley than in the new town of Livingston, Matheson was also at fault for Latvia's second goal.

After 22 minutes, Polakov fired in a free-kick, again from 20 yards. The sting was taken from the effort by a deflection, but Matheson could only push the ball into the path of the grateful Igors Slesarcuks, who tucked it into the net.

Having given away two goals in the opening 22 minutes, both of which were glaring errors, the Scots were given the chance to get back into the match as it took a violent turn.

Michael Craig upset the visitors when a barging match with Polakovs ended in a boxing bout and both were booked in the 27th minute.

Three minutes later, when Craig chased a ball into the box, Latvian goalkeeper and captain Aleksanders Kolinko took exception to his challenge after he had picked up the ball.

In full view of the crowd he delivered the most blatant, and ferocious of head-butts to Craig's face. Everyone could see it, and even if you had your eyes closed you would have heard it.

The referee, Monsieur Vautrot from France, sent the goalkeeper off and awarded a penalty from which Iain Anderson scored to bring the Scots back into the game at 1-2.

Craig was stretchered off and replaced by David Graham, but the move was more one to diffuse the tension rather than a mark of the extent of Craig's injuries.

At this point the Scots, mainly through Barry Ferguson, took charge. Ferguson was passing accurately and re-discovered the cheek, which when allied to his undoubted skill, makes him look a real prospect.

The Scots deservedly equalised four minutes before half time. As the players increasingly violently scrapped for a loose ball on the edge of the Latvian penalty area, Steven Thompson hooked the ball to the far post. Gary Naysmith was there to knock it back and Graham bundled the ball into the net.

The second half looked like a scene set for a notable Scots revival. Instead they fell apart.

After nine minutes of pressure, in which Ferguson almost scored with a 25-yard free-kick, it was the Latvians who regained the lead.

Thompson was slack knocking the ball back to midfield, and his effort served as a through pass to the Latvian forward Eriks Pelcis.

He took the ball 40 yards before having a shot, which once again Matheson could only get a hand to, and the ball trickled into the net off a post.

At 3-2 down, doubts crept into the Scots play. In the 56th minute they had full breakdown.

Vsevolods Lidaks hit a hopeful, and seemingly harmless, shot from around the 30 yard mark, which Matheson watched go past him, into the net.

At, 4-2, the match was finished, and the Latvians, physically stronger although not much older than the Scots, were content to allow them to have the bulk of possession, knowing they were unlikely to break through.

The Scots had a better balance to midfield when Darren Young replaced Grant Brebner, but for all the more space that allowed Ferguson there was to be no signs of any revival.

Brebner and Ferguson just do not hit it off as a midfield pairing.

Brebner looks like a man who watches videos of players who strutt around the midfield, hitting long imaginative passes.

He has learned the first part, but is desperatley lacking in the second, or indeed work-rate.

For Tommy Craig at last this attempt at qualification for the European Championships is over. But there will need to be a drastic improvement if we are to stand a chance of qualifying for the next.

SCOTLAND - Matheson (QoS), McEwan (Raith), Naysmith (Hearts), McCluskey (St. Johnstone). Horn (Hearts), Craig, Buchan (both Aberdeen), Brebner (Man. Utd.), Thompson (Dundee Utd.), Ferguson (Rangers), Anderson (Dundee). Substitutes - Alexander (Stenhousemuir), Seaton (Falkirk), Graham (Rangers), Young (Aberdeen), Anderson (Aberdeen).

LATVIA - Kolinko, Zimis, Pumpa, Rinkus, Lidaks, Mihalcuks, Polakovs, Navilaiko, Pelcis, Slesarcuks, Rubins. Substitutes - Garniers, Bakanins, Idionovs, Dobrecovs, Digulovs.

Referee - M. Vautrot, France..