Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the World Cup qualifier between Malta and Scotland. We'll bring you all the goals and action as it happens. Kick-off: 7.45pm

Scotland claim a 5-1 in their opening World Cup qualification campaign! Snodgrass is the man who grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick in his first competitive game for three years, but Bannan and Ritchie were also excellent in the second half for Strachan's men.

FULL-TIME: Malta 1-5 Scotland

Nonetheless, Scotland have recorded a big win to get their World Cup qualification campaign off to a good start. That's what they wanted from this match and that's what they got.

That was another harsh decision on Malta. Gambin did lash out at Snodgrass with a little kick as he was on the ground, but was it really worthy of a straight red card? I'm not so sure.

Four minutes of stoppage time to be played at the end of the second half.

SENT OFF! Gambin has been shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Snodgrass. Malta are now down to nine men.

On comes Michael Mifsud for Malta. This is his 119th cap and he is the country's top goalscorer. Ever.

This will be a strange game to reflect on for Scotland. They were given so many problems in the first half and they have had some luck, but a 5-1 win is always a good thing.

This will give Scotland an excellent platform ahead of the home qualifier against Lithuania in their next game. Strachan will be hoping that they can start with six points from six.

There's the final change from Strachan. Ritchie was rather impressive for Scotland tonight. His deliveries were great.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Malta 1 Scotland 5 (84 mins - Robert Snodgrass). Snodgrass has his hat-trick! Steven Fletcher rounds the keeper, chips a finish towards goal, hits the bar. But Snodgrass arrives on the scene to finish into the net.

JUST PAST THE POST! Snodgrass set himself up for the shot on goal with some fortunate mis-control, but the Hull City man's shot flashes past the far post. That was flying!

They have enjoyed more than their fair share of luck, but Scotland have been much better in this second half. They have looked like they could ring up quite the scoreline here.

Scotland are now in complete control of the match, with Forrest and Fletcher now keen to make an impression and put down a marker for future qualification ties. The away side are still going.

This result should give Scotland some momentum for the campaign ahead, but there are still some questions for Strachan and his players to answer. The first half was concerning.

With that fourth goal for Scotland, Malta are now surely making changes to give players some game-time now.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Malta 1 Scotland 4 (78 mins - Steven Fletcher). There's another for Scotland and this is now turning into something of a rout. Ritchie's cross into the area was wicked and Steven Fletcher was on the end of it to head home.

Some of Ritchie's freekick deliveries have also been excellent. The Newcastle United man is one of those few players Scotland have that can really make a difference at this level.

Snodgrass has made an exceptional return to competitive action for Scotland tonight. He has two goals and he really could have got a hat-trick with that chance he passed up in the first half.