Slovakia 3-0 Scotland: Robert Mak double and Adam Nemec strike deepens pressure on Gordon Strachan

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What an unholy mess this became. In a city where bountiful churches have earned it the nickname of Little Rome, Scotland’s World Cup ambitions were reduced to the stuff of prayers.

Only divine intervention could have added substance to the standard of defending witnessed. It was truly dismal fare, significantly deepening the dismay felt after Saturday’s home draw against Lithuania.

Three games in and another failed campaign is beckoning. For some, this already felt like the end. As Scotland toiled to claim even a consolation goal, the derision raining down from the Tartan Army made painful listening for Gordon Strachan. 

Zenit St Petersburg attacking midfielder Robert Mak fires Slovakia in front after David Marshall saved Marek Hamsik's header

Mak celebrates his opener with Jakub Holubek to give Scotland plenty of work to do in order to avoid defeat in Trnava

Mak strokes in his second of the night to heap more misery on the travelling supporters and things would later get worse

Adam Nemec celebrates scoring Slovakia's third in a one-sided affair that severely dents Scotland's hopes of reaching Russia

His position is now open to pertinent, searching questions. He wouldn’t be drawn on his future on Tuesday night, diverting his thoughts to the players. But this didn’t resemble a team trying to save their manager.

A trip to Wembley awaits just four weeks on Friday and may preclude any rapid decisions being made. But claims of progress have been shown up as utterly hollow.

Following the botched bid to reach Euro 2016, the hope was that Strachan’s retention would at least provide the benefit of continuity. That a long-term plan could bear fruit.

Instead, there are only signs of regression, of decisions that are no longer paying off. This double header has felt like a throwback to the dispiriting final days of Craig Levein’s reign.

Yes, there are limited resources. But Strachan’s team selection and tactical plan simply didn’t function. There was promise only for a spell in the first half, which was pockmarked by a controversial concession.

It was the first of two goals scored by Robert Mak, the Slovakian winger. Mak the Knife simply lacerated Scotland.

For a while, it seemed that Swedish referee Martin Strombergsson might have absorbed some of the blame after failing to penalise the Slovaks for a foul on Steven Fletcher immediately beforehand. 

But his failings were swiftly swamped by those in the visitors’ backline. 

Scotland look to gather themselves after falling behind in the 18th minute to Mak's powerful finish after the ball broke loose

Darren Fletcher shows the strain at the Anton Malatinksy City Arena in Trnava on a disappointing night for the Tartan Army

James McArthur is brought down by Michal Duris after the Crystal Palace midfielder was recalled to the centre of midfield

Come full-time, the 1,800 or so travelling fans turned on the boos. Even these faithful followers are growing tired of it all.

Since defeating the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park in November 2014, Strachan’s side have played nine competitive fixtures. The only wins have come against Malta and Gibraltar. That is a pretty bleak sequence.

With a mere four points from the first three Group F fixtures – all feasibly winnable – Scotland are already in need of a minor miracle. On Tuesday night’s evidence, few will wager on it arriving in London.

Wembley will provide a very different venue to the Antona Malatinskeho Stadium. One of the more peculiar international arenas, it sits at the centre of a shopping and cinema complex.

Sport as pure entertainment? The locals clearly disagreed. Swathes of empty seats were a sign many had written off this campaign after defeats to England and Slovenia.

It meant intimidation was absent for the Scots. Infuriation, however, was present in spadefuls. Strombergsson saw to that as he was cast as the villain in the central drama of the first half.

Jan Durica’s bodycheck on Fletcher, as he sought to close down deep in Slovakian territory, was somehow ignored by Strombergsson and his assistants. It was a ridiculous omission, allowing the home team to break free down the left flank. 

Jan Durica beats Steven Fletcher in the air as Slovakia belatedly got their World Cup qualifying campaign on track

Gordon Strachan is under increasing pressure after Scotland failed to record three points from the home game with Lithuania

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher battles with Mak for an aerial ball during an opening half which frustrated the visitors

From there, however, the focus of blame must shift. Scotland seemed distracted by the injustice when all energies should have been focused on dealing with its consequences. Playing to the whistle is schoolboy stuff.

Jakub Holubek delivered a deep cross that found Marek Hamsik unfettered by a marker. His header was blocked by David Marshall, but Mak reacted quickest to lash the rebound high into the net. Another entry on the growing list of eminently preventable concessions.

Eighteen minutes in and Scotland were already playing catch-up. That they probably deserved better on the balance of play to that point was no consolation.

In some ways, the personnel picked by Strachan had reflected the circumstances. It was imbued with what he would regard as tried and tested elements. 

Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel - now at Fenerbahce - wore a mask to protect a broken nose during the encounter

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was once more on the substitutes bench despite calls for him to be played from the start

Scotland have dropped to fourth in the group

Despite being hailed as ‘outstanding’ by the manager for his underwhelming efforts against Lithuania, Chris Martin was demoted to the bench. Fletcher, that stalwart of the Euro 2016 campaign, was duly restored to the apex of the attack. 

Namesake Darren passed a fitness test to sit behind James McArthur and Barry Bannan in central midfield. This more solid-looking three-man midfield unit derived decent possession for spells in the opening period. 

Robert Snodgrass was shifted wide left, from where he created the game’s first opportunity. His tantalising delivery was met by Fletcher’s miscued header.

Durica’s drive from distance was the sole signal of Slovakian intent prior to their disputed breakthrough. The response saw a redoubling of the Scottish advance towards Matus Kozacik’s goal.

Snodgrass should have done better than strike against the keeper’s legs when rolled in by Bannan. The same could be said for the McArthur header that connected with Kieran Tierney’s cross.

Scotland supporters arrived at Anton Malatinksy City Arena full of optimism but they found themselves behind early on

David Marshall makes a flying save to prevent Scotland from galling further behind in the 2018 World Cup qualifier

Celtic’s teenage left-back, taking over from fitness doubt Andy Robertson, was surging forward with typically gritty intent. Two defenders were left trailing before he dragged a shot narrowly wide from the fringe of the area.

But the equaliser didn’t come. And Scotland had Marshall to thank for preventing a more substantial deficit at the interval.

A flying tip wide to thwart Mak’s curler conceded a corner. It wasn’t properly cleared by a defence that seems to live in a permanent state of fragility. Durica thumped goalwards, but the Hull City keeper stood strong.

Strachan’s team talk had to deliver a powerful 45 minutes. Ambitions of reaching Russia were now firmly on the line. 

Callum Paterson is closed down by Mak as Scotland - despite enjoying plenty of possession - went into the break trailing

Strachan had been criticised for his team selection and questioned over his appetite for the role leading up to the game

Slovakia had gone 423 minutes without a goal prior to their opener. Now they had two in the space of 38 minutes of play. They were ebullient. Scotland looked utterly deflated.

No such response followed. Only more abysmal defending that would be unacceptable at levels well below a World Cup qualifier.

Hamsik was involved in the build-up as Slovakia easily gained access to the Scotland area. When the cut-back was delivered, Mak had time to leave Russell Martin floundering on the turf before picking his spot beyond Marshall. It was pitiful stuff. 

Strachan finally made changes after 64 minutes, withdrawing Ritchie and Darren Fletcher for Ikechi Anya and Leigh Griffiths.

But it made no difference. Even if the game wasn’t already up, the leaking of a third painfully simple goal soon removed any doubt.

A Mak corner, a free header for Adam Nemec. The conclusion of a brutal defeat.

Griffiths went close with a couple of late attempts, yet it was all to no avail. Where Scotland and Strachan go from here is very much open to debate. But the chances of the journey ending in Russia are receding towards a dot on the horizon.

Mak takes advantage of a static Scotland defence to pick his spot at the near post after turning inside Russell Martin

Nemec plants his header into the bottom corner after 68 minutes on a chastening night for Strachan's side in Trnava

Slovakia celebrate sealing the victory to secure their first points of the World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday night

Scotland supporters show their dejection during the match as they watched their side slump to a heavy defeat in Slovakia