Gordon Strachan has urged five members of his squad to stay calm and minimise the risk of receiving a World Cup booking against Malta which would rule them out of next month’s clash with Slovakia.
Scott Brown, the captain, and centre forward Leigh Griffiths are among a handful of players who have been booked once in the seven Group F games and will face a one-match ban if they are cautioned again. That would rule them out of the Slovakia game on October 5 which, if Malta are taken care of at Hampden tonight and Slovakia lose at Wembley, could be one of Scotland’s biggest games for years. James McArthur, Charlie Mulgrew and Grant Hanley are also one booking away from a ban, although Hanley