Scott Brown and James McFadden secured the victory for Scotland over Macedonia to keep their World Cup play-off hopes alive.

Pressure had been mounting on Burley since last month's 4-0 thrashing in Norway left the nation's chances of qualifying for next summer's finals in South Africa in the balance and he knew defeat at Hampden today could have spelled the end of his tenure.

But the Scots rose to the challenge after a nervous first half had ended goalless when Brown claimed his first international goal after the restart and McFadden ensured the victory late on ahead of another crunch match on Wednesday night against Holland.

Stephen McManus was set for his first competitive start since May for Scotland in their must-win clash.

The Celtic captain returned only recently to full training following a knee problem but was pressed into action in the Group Nine match because of others' injuries and suspensions - and he was partnered with 39-year-old David Weir in the heart of the Scots' defence.

Number one goalkeeper Craig Gordon was back after missing the 4-0 defeat by Norway in Oslo last month with a knee injury. James McFadden was restored to an attack-minded side which also included Kenny Miller and Steven Fletcher. Second-placed Macedonia, with play-off aspirations of their own, had star striker Goran Pandev leading the line.

Scotland's under-fire boss George Burley knew that in order to survive the increasing pressure he was under, his side had to take all three points and then beat Holland on Wednesday.

Even then, however, a play-off spot would not be guaranteed.

Five changes to the side which lost in Oslo, albeit one enforced through the suspension of defender Gary Caldwell, suggested an air of desperation about Burley's team selection and it was a disjointed start from the men in dark blue.

Mirsad Jonuz's side settled quickly and in the eighth minute, with their first corner, Pandev's cross was headed wide by Ilco Naumoski.

Three minutes later as Macedonia broke with pace, Gordon was forced into a fine parry to concede a corner from Pandev's close-range drive with the visitors wasting the set-piece.

In the 13th minute, there was the first disruption to Burley's plans when left-back Callum Davidson limped off to be replaced by Steven Whittaker.

Moments later, with Macedonia on the back foot, Scotland midfielder Scott Brown fired in a low drive from the edge of the box but his effort went wide.

Brown had seen a decent effort whistle past the post earlier in the game and was threatening again when he ran onto a Darren Fletcher free-kick before racing into the box and rippling the side-netting with a well-struck shot.

This may have been a must-win match for the home nation, and Burley in particular, but it was Macedonia who looked most likely to open the scoring in what was becoming an increasingly tense atmosphere at Hampden.

The Scotland defence looked nervous and Gordon was forced to come to the rescue after McManus allowed Pandev through on goal, before the striker hooked over the crossbar after Weir failed to deal with a cross from the left.

With half-time approaching, Gordon was called into action again to block a 25-yard drive from Pandev, before Whittaker cleared the danger.

McFadden then picked up a costly yellow card just before the whistle, which rules him out of Wednesday's clash against Holland.

Scotland could have been ahead five minutes after the restart when Nikolce Noveski's attempts to clear a Steven Fletcher ball from the right saw him inadvertently prod it into the path of McFadden but the Birmingham forward blasted wide.

Gordon was then forced to deny Pandev for a third time after Macedonia's all-time top goalscorer found himself one-on-one with the Scotland goalkeeper.

The Scots did look more dangerous in the second half and goalkeeper Jane Nikoloski spilled the ball after blocking from Kenny Miller but Steven Fletcher slid in just too late to connect at the back post.

Hampden erupted when the opening goal arrived after 56 minutes.

Brown beat Sedloski to the ball and connected with a Steven Fletcher cross to direct a header past the Macedonia goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net to claim his first international goal.

The visitors could have restored parity when Pandev broke away down the left flank before whipping an inviting ball to the feet of Georgievski but he squandered a great opportunity to level by blasting wide of the upright.

Scotland should have doubled their advantage when Miller bore down on goal from the right flank only to see his effort flash across the face of goal and inches wide of the target.

Instead, the honours went to McFadden. A terrific solo effort saw him collect the ball on the halfway line before skipping past Sedloski and rounding the goalkeeper before coolly slotting into the back of the net with 10 minutes to go.

Scotland saw out the remainder of the match to claim the crucial three points, knowing they must do it all again when Group Nine winners Holland come calling on Wednesday night.