A laboured Scotland wheezed their way to the top of their World Cup qualifying group with two games remaining by edging out the world's 100th best team, Belarus, in front of a discontented Hampden crowd.

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With fans hoping for goals against a luckless side who had conceded 13 times in Group C already, Che Adams' electric finish after 15 minutes and a late Scott McTominay sweeping shot were all that they were served up.

It could have been far worse for Steve Clarke - who took charge of a record 72nd match as men's head coach - as Evgeni Malashevich's calm finish for 1-1 was ruled out after a VAR check.

And that was before Hleb Kuchko reduced the deficit to just a single goal with a handful of injury-time minutes left to play.

There were moments in the closing stages at 1-0 in Glasgow when booing could be heard as Belarus knocked the ball about calmly and a nervous Scotland retreated.

And those jeers returned at the end of the game as the full-time whistle blew, mixed in with applause.

It was the sign of frustration which had been simmering from the first minute as Belarus took the game to their hosts.

timesmash-and-grab nature of Scotland's victory over Greece on Thursday had nobody fooled, but fans would have been hoping for a more authoritative showing.

Instead, Scotland have escaped from this international break with two crucial wins when it easily could - and probably should - have been much less.

The visitors threatened early, with Adams' goal Scotland's first real chance.

The Torino striker controlled a rifled ball, spun in a flash at the edge of the box, and slammed low to the keeper's left. It was initially flagged for offside, but Scotland eventually celebrated.

Ben Gannon-Doak, a ball of frenetic energy down Scotland's right, scampered back and forth, and almost scored himself just before the break.

Not much changed in the second half as the Scots remained pragmatic in their approach.

A big shout and long VAR check preceded Adams appearing to be hauled down in the box, but the striker was penalised for a handball in the build up.

Seconds later, Malashevich's fine finish had Hampden turning hostile. This time VAR was Scotland's friend once more as it identified a foul on McTominay in the build up, with it then returning to a foe as a check ruled out Adams' second of the night as the game ebbed to a conclusion.

At that point, it seemed to be a sign of a sting in the tail that was still to come. Instead, McTominay's touch and shot on 84 minutes looked to dispel any hint of a disaster.

However, the game was brought to a close with Scotland defending for their lives after Kuchko turned Andy Robertson to finish under Angus Gunn deep into injury time.

Analysis: Points now make prizes for Scotland

Scotland may have walked off top of Group C with two games to play, but goal difference was always potentially a factor if they want to secure an automatic place at next year's World Cup finals.

Right now the Scots are on +5, while Denmark start their meeting with Greece on +9, with another game against Belarus to come. It now appears the Scots are going to have to outpoint instead of outscore the Danes if they want to finish top of Group C.

That is perhaps the source of much of the ire inside Hampden. This was Scotland's chance to let loose. Instead, there were swathes of this game they were on the back foot.

Which leads us to a more crucial point. Performances this window just haven't clicked. And while Clarke won't be complaining, there's no doubt more is needed if a first World Cup appearance since 1998 is going to be secured next month.

What next?

All aboard the World Cup bus to Athens.

Clarke's side head to face Greece in their penultimate qualifier on 15 November (19:45 GMT), before a potentially nerve-jangling meeting in Glasgow against Denmark on 18 November (19:45) - both live on the BBC.

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