Faroes Hit For 6

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport.

Old Firm strikers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller helped Scotland get their Euro 2008 campaign off to a flying start with a drubbing of the Faroe Islands at Parkhead.

Boyd had been compared to goalscoring icon Ally McCoist and he stretched his international record to four goals in three caps in Scotland's biggest win since an 8-0 humiliation of Cyprus in 1968.

But Miller must have been the most relieved man inside the ground when Boyd stepped aside, after converting an early penalty, to allow his team-mate to score the fourth after 14 games without a Celtic goal.

By that time the Group B whipping boys, who lost 6-0 at home to Georgia last month, were dead and buried after early goals from Darren Fletcher and James McFadden.

There was even time for substitute Garry O'Connor to come off the bench to round off the win.

Manager Walter Smith went with a bold attacking line-up with Italy, France, Ukraine, Georgia and Lithuania all to come.

The midfield promised goals with Manchester United's Fletcher and Hearts' Paul Hartley behind.

Everton stalwart David Weir captained the side on his 49th international appearance.

The Scotland supporters did not have to wait long for the first goal.

Miller cut past Pauli Hansen and pulled the ball into the centre for Fletcher to force the ball over the line from five yards.

Goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen thought he had done enough to keep the ball from going over the line but referee Igor Egorov pointed to the centre and the Old Trafford man was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates.

Suddenly the Faroes were staring another hammering in the face after McFadden doubled the lead in the 10th minute.

Miller again showed his lack of Celtic goals had not affected his confidence with a clever spin away from his marker.

Two defenders quickly crowded him out but the ball broke to the former Motherwell man on the edge of the area and he curled a first-time right-foot shot between Mikkelsen's hand and his post.

The Scotland fans were again celebrating a goal when the referee pointed to the spot after McFadden went down under a challenge and Boyd stepped up to score his third in three games.

The Russian was again pointing to the penalty spot six minutes later but this time for a Atli Danielsen foul on Fletcher.

And it marked a big moment for Miller, who took the ball off Boyd, to end his Parkhead hoodoo.

But the Celtic man breathed a sigh of relief as his effort went under Mikkelsen.

The goals continued to pour down on the poor Faroes and Boyd made it five eight minutes before the break.

Fletcher slipped the ball through to the Rangers man and he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper at the second attempt.

A thrilled Smith made a change at the break with Gary Teale coming on for Fletcher.

Scotland had not been 5-0 up at the break since their victory in Cyprus.

But Scotland should have had a penalty three minutes into the second period when Danielsen brought down Boyd.

This time the referee looked embarrassed to point to the spot again and the game resumed.

Hartley looked to have played Boyd in for his hat-trick in the 52nd minute but his outstretched boot could not connect with the pass and the goalkeeper claimed the ball.

McFadden set his sights on his second but his free-kick was well kept out by the diving Mikkelsen close to his right post.

Boyd was sniffing for his treble and a vital tackle from Janus Joensen prevented him from testing the goalkeeper again.

The hard-working Miller came off to a standing ovation and was replaced by O'Connor in the 62nd minute.

Craig Gordon was at full stretch to tip a cross-turned-shot from Danielsen over the crossbar but he did well to still be on his toes to make his first save of the game in the 70th minute.

O'Connor looked keen to get on the scoresheet and he whistled shots over on two occasions before Mikkelsen saved Boyd's header.

McFadden again brought out a great save from the over-worked goalkeeper.

But he was beaten again with five minutes remaining when O'Connor fired home from inside the area.


Teams

Scotland Gordon, Dailly, Weir, Pressley, Naysmith,Fletcher (Teale 45), Hartley, Quashie (Severin 84),Miller (O'Connor 61), Boyd, McFadden.


Subs Not Used: Neil Alexander, Graham Alexander, Anderson,

Caldwell.


Booked: Fletcher, Miller.


Faroe Islands Mikkelsen, Pauli Hansen, Oli Johannesen,Danielsen, Janus Joensen, Benjaminsen,Johnsson (Simun Samuelsen 76), Borg,Frederiksberg (Thorleifsson 60), Christian Hogni Jacobsen,Rogvi Jacobsen (Kari Nielsen 84).


Subs Not Used: Meinhardt Joensen, Claus Bech Jorgensen,

Hans Pauli Samuelsen, Mortensen.


Booked: Borg, Benjaminsen, Frederiksberg, Oli Johannesen.

Ref: Igor Yegorov (Russia).