Scotland were in the pink last night as they got preparations for their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign underway with a morale-boosting if somewhat improbable away win over the Czech Republic.

It was the first match which Gordon Strachan's side had played of the garish pink away strip which was unveiled to the horror of many members of the Tartan Army last year.

It certainly appeared to be to the liking of the players, though, as they ran out narrow 1-0 winners in the Stadion Letna courtesy of a solitary strike from Ikechi Anya in the 10th minute.

However, Scotland, who will get their bid to reach the next World Cup underway with a game against Malta away in Valletta in September, survived sustained periods of Czech pressure throughout the 90 minutes.

Had it not been for the heroics of Allan McGregor, the Hull City goalkeeper who enjoyed an exceptional night, they would surely not have recorded such a positive result here.

Kenny McLean, the Aberdeen midfielder who has enjoyed another outstanding season with the Pittodrie club, was named in the starting line-up and won his first cap. He played just off lone front man Ross McCormack with Anya on his left and Robert Snodgrass on the right.

Snodgrass, the Hull City forward who missed the entire Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a dislocated kneecap, came in to win his first cap since playing in a friendly against Norway nearly two and a half years previously. It was another positive step in his ongoing rehabilitation.

McCormack, only called up as a late replacement for the injured Steven Naismith on Sunday evening, was preferred to the less experienced Tony Watt up front.

Christophe Berra needlessly gifted the home team a free-kick in a dangerous on the edge of his own penalty box with a clumsy foul on Vladimir Darida in the eighth minute. Borek Dockal struck the crossbar with a fine effort before McGregor swatted a follow up header from David Limbersky wide for a corner.

Scotland found themselves in front just two minutes after surviving that scare with the simplest of goals. McCormack sent Anya clean through on goal and the diminuitive winger showed admirable composure to rifle a low shot beyond debutant goalkeeper Tomas Koubek.

However, the Czechs responded immediately with an onslaught which their opponents were fortunate to repel. The visitors had McGregor and McGregor alone to thank for keeping them in front. He produced outstanding saves from Darida, Martin Frydek, Josef Sural and Tomas Necid in the space of six minutes.

McGregor’s block from a powerful Frydek drive in particular was exceptional. David Marshall is currently the first choice keeper for his country. His compatriot, though, will have done his prospects of displacing him no harm whatsoever with this individual showing.

Pavel Vrba’s men showed why they had qualified for the Euro 2016 finals as winners of their section by controlling long spells in the first half. Despite not being at full-strength, their passing and movement were a delight to watch at times. But their attempts to equalise were aided by opponents who were careless in possession and unconvincing defensively.

Still, Scotland somehow had two opportunities to increase their lead before half-time. Snodgrass blasted a free-kick straight at the defensive wall and McCormack headed an excellent delivery from Charlie Mulgrew wide.

The second half started with Scotland again defending furiously. But they carved out an opening in the 54th minute when Anya teed up McLean for a shot in the Czech area which he fired wide from an acute angle.

Strachan made his first two changes of the game four minutes later. He took off Andy Robertson and McLean and put on Barry Bannan and Matt Phillips respectively. The replacements made an immediate impact. Scotland performed with greater confidence with them involved.

Phillips, the Queens Park Rangers midfielder who was making only his third appearance for his adopted homeland, took up position to the right of the park. He forced a save from Koubek with a header after getting on the end of a cross from Snodgrass

Snodgrass, who moved infield behind McCormack when his manager made his double substitution, headed a Phillips ball past the post. He is, not surprisingly after such a lengthy lay off, still not operating at the level he was before he suffered his injury, but he can be pleased with his contribution here.

Both Scotland and the Czechs had appeals for penalties waved away by Irish referee Paul Mclaughlin after Alan Hutton, who was winning his 50th cap, and Limbersky, went down.

Watt came on for McCormack with 12 minutes remaining and Paul Caddis took over from Anya with four minutes of regulation time left. Both men were making their debuts for the national team. They will have benefited from being involved in Prague as will Scotland.

Czech Republic: Koubek, Kaderabek (Rada, 87), Kadlec, Sivok, Necid, Limbersky, Dockal (Kolar, 65), Vacek (Marecek, 78), Sural (Pudil, 78), Frydek (Skalak, 46), Darida.

Substitutes not used: Vaclik, Hruska, Gebre Selassie, Brabec, Suchy, Krejci, Vydra.

Booked: Skalak.

Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Robertson (Bannan, 58), Martin, Mulgrew, Fletcher, Snodgrass, Anya (Caddis, 87), McCormack (Watt, 78), Berra, McLean (Phillips, 58).

Substitutes not used: Bain, Greer, McDonald, Watt.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Ireland)