SCOTLAND ARE turning their habit of struggling against Malta into a tradition. This latest failure to take proper advantage of inferior opponents, however, is a discouraging portent for the World Cup match in Belarus on Sunday.

Here was a Maltese side who have lost all seven of their World Cup Group Six matches - indeed, they had lost 11 and drawn two of their previous 13 internationals - putting the frighteners on the Scottish holidaymakers in a crowd which, at around 3,500, clearly escaped the threatened boycott by local supporters disaffected with their team.

It was not until eight minutes from the end that Darren Jackson, the Hibernian striker, completed his own double and secured a victory that had looked improbable when the Scots lost the lead for the second time 12 minutes after the interval.

Christian Dailly gave the Scots a splendid start with his first international goal in the fourth minute. John Collins stabbed a free kick on the left short to Gary McAllister and the Scotland captain floated the ball to the head of Dailly, who was unchallenged as he sent it over the line from six yards.

The Scots should have made more of their superiority. But they are never at their best when they are in control of a match and conceded the equaliser after 17 minutes.

There was a lot of luck about it as Hubert Suda's shot was blocked by Boyd and the ball came straight back to him. His second attempt seemed miscued, but the ball was deflected by Agius Gilbert and screwed away from the stranded Jim Leighton.

Jackson scored the first of his goals just a few seconds before the break. Boyd's cross from the right was headed by Gallacher towards the back post, where the isolated Jackson had only to knock it over the line from six yards.

There was nothing flukey about the next equaliser. The substitute, Stefan Sultana, received Ivan Zammit's high centre from the right, cut inside David Weir and drilled the ball low to the left of Leighton from 12 yards.

Jackson was deadly accurate with the winner, turning beautifully to drive the ball low to the right of Mario Muscat from 12 yards after good buildup by Tosh McKinlay and substitute Gordon Durie.

The ending of the match was further soured for the home side when their substitute, Noel Turner, was sent off for a harsh tackle on John Collins shortly alter Jackson had scored.