GORDON STRACHAN didn't care what happened in last night's crunch Group D between the Republic of Ireland and Poland.

All the Scotland manager is concerned about is what his team does in this qualifying race for the finals of Euro 2016.

And, having survived a scare when his side slept-walked into conceding the first-ever goal scored by Gibraltar before they added to their opening goal with another five - including a hat-trick from Steven Fletcher - Strachan was able to sleep easy when he reached his Midlands home last night.

He admitted he had sympathy for David Marshall, who he reckons will now be a quiz question answer as the only keeper to have lost a goal to Gibraltar in competitive action.

And Strachan even joked Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon must have been delighted they had been left on the bench.

But there was a serious tone to his voice as he reflected on the 19th-minute shock provided by Gibraltar's Lee Casciaro.

Asked if it had given him a fright, Strachan said: "Yep - and it's partly down to us.

"We spent all week on attacking and width, and we really fell asleep, taking it for granted they wouldn't attack - and they did.

"We were caught walking out when the move should have been walking back the way.

"So that made for an interesting couple of minutes."

Shaun Maloney's two penalties either side of Steven Fletcher's first goal of his hat-trick, and another from Steven Naismith, meant Scotland had spiked the guns of Gibraltar by half time.

"Shaun held his nerve, and that's not easy," said Strachan.

"I've been there taking a penalty against one of the minnows, and he dispatched that well."

Fletcher also came in for praise after becoming the first Scot to score a hat-trick since Colin Stein got four against Cyprus in 1969.

Strachan was a 12-year-old fan on the terracing that day, and he said: "It was a long time ago and a few stone ago, but I was there."

Looking forward, Strachan believes Scotland are well placed in Group D and said: "After five games and performances, I'm delighted we have 10 points.

"I think we're all happy with that.

"We can go into the second half of this group feeling quite good about ourselves."

He does concede, however, that his counterpart, David Wilson, will be every bit as happy after his homecoming with his Gibraltar side.

"I have to say all the credit should really go to Gibraltar," said Strachan.

"They made my life a misery for periods of that game.

"They made it a long game for me as a coach, so well done to them.

"But also well done to my players, because there were players out there who weren't having a great game, but they stuck at it.

"Nobody got booked, which I liked."