SCOTLAND will have to be ready for an ugly and angry scrap in Macedonia if they are to haul themselves off the bottom of World Cup qualifying Group A, according to assistant manager Mark McGhee.

Gordon Strachan's face the very real prospect of finishing bottom of Group A given that their last game in the campaign is at home to Croatia next month. They are currently a point behind Wales and two points behind Macedonia, who have a game in hand.

Macedonia beat Wales in a tousy battle on Friday night and McGhee warned the Scotland players they will have to be uncompromising and prepared to annoy the home team if they are to snatch only a second win from nine qualifying ties.

"We are not coming here to make friends," he said. "We are going here to fall out with people. I don't really care if Macedonia come away and say, 'you know what, what a nasty bunch they were' if we come away with a result.

"It's all about winning games and you can't be friends with the guy ill-treating you. You have to get right in about them. They had a great result against Wales, they are up for it and they will be physical."

Jordan Rhodes left the squad yesterday because of a hand injury which had to be put in a plaster cast, while Charlie Adam returned to Stoke City after suffering a back spasm in training on Saturday. Robert Snodgrass is suspended.

McGhee added: "We don't have a right not to finish bottom of a group, we have to earn that. Macedonia, Serbia, and ourselves are much of a muchness and we are all scrapping for every point. To finish above bottom would be an achievement in itself taking that into account."