Scotland kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with an assured 3-0 victory in Lithuania on Friday
Gordon Strachan's men travelled to Vilnius knowing anything less than a win would all but end their hopes of going to Russia 2018
But goals from Stuart Armstrong (25) and Andrew Robertson (30) in a dominant first-half display eased the nerves before James McArthur (72) made sure of the victory
The result lifts Scotland up to third in Group F, four points behind second-place Slovakia ahead of Monday's Qualifier with whipping boys Malta at Hampden Park
Scotland's qualification campaigns of recent years are remembered for falling short at the final hurdle, but any chance of that trend repeating itself was quickly eradicated by a powerful start in the Lithuanian capital
With the exception of Arvydas Novikovas' dragged 10th-minute effort, it was one-way traffic as the Scots laid siege to the Lithuania goal
And they got the goal their industrious start deserved as Armstrong headed a Leigh Griffiths corner into the back of the net from close range midway through the half
One became two shortly after when Liverpool full-back Robertson underlined Scotland's dominance by curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner
Scotland started the second period needing to score a decisive third, and, after peppering the Lithuanian goal, McArthur finally got the better of stopper Ernestas Setkus with a scooped finish 18 minutes from time
It means a place at next summer's World Cup is very much still up for grabs for Scotland, who look to capitalise on Slovakia's trip to Wembley when Malta travel to Glasgow
"The individual performance from some of the boys was outstanding, so it was a good night
 In terms of pure football that was as good as it gets from my time
 The guys were phenomenal
"Robertson took to the field in Vilnius with all the swagger of a man who had just become a father for the very first time
 It's been a momentous few weeks for the promising full-back, who has settled into life at Liverpool with ease
 Robertson was the standout performer on a rare night of comfort for the Scots, his 30th-minute stunner the highlight
Scotland host Malta at Hampden Park on Monday - live on - while Lithuania travel to Slovenia for their match in World Cup qualification
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