John McGinn scored a first-half hat-trick as Scotland thrashed San Marino 6-0 in Sunday's European Qualifier at a sodden Hampden Park.
After a crushing defeat to Russia on Thursday, Steve Clarke's side were under pressure to sweep aside the word's lowest-ranked side and McGinn had them on course by the interval (12, 27, 45+1) with his first international treble.
The game deteriorated in the second half on a waterlogged pitch but Scotland, who must rely on coming through the play-offs next March to reach the Euro 2020 finals, continued to seek further reward and after Lawrence Shankland scored his first international goal (65), Stuart Findlay did the same (67).
Stuart Armstrong added further gloss to the scoreline with a superb late free-kick (87) as a dead-rubber game at least provided Clarke's side with an overdue morale boost.
How Scots battled rain for boost
In front of a paltry crowd, amid constant rain, the home side forced two corners in the first two minutes before San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini brilliantly saved Shankland's close-range strike for another corner which came to nothing.
But in the 12th minute, the keeper was beaten when McGinn got the slightest of touches on Ryan Christie's cross, the ball going in off the post.
The Aston Villa midfielder's goal eased the nerves and though Simoncini denied James Forrest from range, he could only parry a Scott McTominay cross that allowed McGinn to pounce again.
It was all-out defence for San Marino as the rain continued to pour. The visiting goalkeeper kept the deficit down again when he blocked McTominay's side-footed effort but just before the interval, but McGinn grabbed his hat-trick when he swivelled to meet Findlay's knockdown.
The only danger to the home side was the rain, with the ball sticking with increasing regularity on the deteriorating surface.
The fixture was in danger of descending into farce, but Scotland were eager to extend their lead further and in the 65th minute, Dundee United striker Shankland got his first international goal after McTominay's 20-yard effort rebounded off the bar and into his path.
Two minutes later, Kilmarnock defender Findlay followed suit when he headed in a Christie corner and there was time for further gloss to a result expected but a fillip nevertheless, as Armstrong bent a fine free-kick over the San Marino wall.