Scotland start Strachan era with Estonia win

Strachan, who was appointed in succession to the sacked Craig Levein last month, had previously not managed a win in any of his opening games as manager of Coventry, Southampton, Celtic or Middlesbrough.

But after early efforts from Chris Burke and Shaun Maloney it was Mulgrew, a player that Strachan sold when in charge of Celtic, scored in the 39th minute when he clipped Charlie Adam's free-kick past Sergei Pareiko for his first Scotland goal.

Estonia had their chances too through Taijo Teniste and Tarmo Kink with the game goalless but Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor made two good saves.

Steven Naismith and Mulgrew both came close with efforts in a more subdued second half as Scotland warmed up for next month's World Cup qualifying double-header against Wales and Serbia with a morale-boosting win.

Strachan was buoyed by Scotland's display on a heavy surface.

"There were some good individual performances, everyone knows how the pitch was," he told Sky Sports.

"You could see the players who are playing regular. Those who are playing regular did a good job. There was a lot to like."

Strachan was given a warm welcome by the Scotland fans at Pittodrie, the ground where he made his name as a player with Aberdeen in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

And the Tartan Army were offered early encouragement when Mulgrew's corner was headed into the box by Naismith and Maloney fired in a decent shot on the turn that Pareiko turned round the post.

Burke, winning his first cap for nearly seven years, was then sent scampering into the box by a long ball over the top from Alan Hutton but the Birmingham winger cut inside before shooting and his effort was blocked.

Scotland had done all the early running but Estonia came close when Teniste cut in from the left-wing and let fly with a fierce striker that McGregor did well to tip over.

Burke was posing the Estonian defence all sorts of problems and, after twisting and turning in the box, he picked out Steven Fletcher with a cross from the by-line. But the Sunderland striker sent a header just over.

Maloney, another of Strachan's former Celtic players, then burst out of midfield and left a couple of opponents trailing before drilling in a low shot that Pareiko managed to palm away.

McGregor had had a quiet time in the Scotland goal but he came to the rescue for his side when he raced out to block a shot from Kink, who had latched on to a long ball.

A cleverly worked set piece helped Scotland make the breakthrough in the 39th minute. Stoke midfielder Adam rolled a free-kick from the left for Mulgrew who ran on to it and slammed the ball past a host of players into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Burke and Maloney were replaced by Jordan Rhodes and Robert Snodgrass at the break and the latter was involved straight away when he raced on to a clever Naismith pass before a defender's touch took the sting out of his shot.

Everton forward Naismith found room for himself in the middle of the pitch and he strode forward before rifling a shot just over the bar from 20 yards out.