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Lanarkshire Live Sport

Moldova v Scotland: World Cup qualifier predictions with play-off spot on the line

Scotland are on the cusp of a World Cup play-off place and tonight's the night they can seal a date with destiny.

It's perhaps written in the stars that a year to the day since Scotland beat Serbia on penalties to book our place at Euro 2020, November 12 could once again deliver a moment to remember for Scotland.

Beat minnows Moldova in our penultimate Group F qualifier and a play-off spot for next winter's showpiece in Qatar is secure.

Sounds simple, but it rarely is with Scotland.

Both sides have been hit by injuries and suspensions and there will could be an unfamiliar look to the starting 11s at the Zimbru Stadium.

The last meeting between the teams wasn't a classic, with Scotland finding a solitary Lyndon Dykes goal to edge past Roberto Bordin's men at Hampden.

How will it go in Chișinău? The Lanarkshire Live Sport team give you their predictions for the crunch clash:

BEN BANKS

Clarke will be keen for goals. (SNS Group / SFA)

There are a few absences that Scotland will need to deal with but it's up to others to step up for a game which can't come much bigger.

Clarke's side are the favourites in this tie, but they have to make sure they show that. Last month's narrow win over Faroe Islands shows how tough it can be against 'lesser' opposition.

Dykes in attack is obviously a big miss and Scott McTominay's absence will be felt in midfield, and potentially defence. But Clarke's men should have enough, albeit it will be tight.

McTominay isn't available for Scotland this week. (SNS Group)

It won't be a cricket score, far from it, but working things quickly in attack and keeping it tight in defence should see Scotland into a play-off spot.

Prediction: Moldova 0 Scotland 1

PAUL THOMSON

Kevin Nisbet (left) and Jacob Brown in training (SNS Group / SFA)

The absence of talisman Lyndon Dykes is obviously a big blow after scoring in our last four qualifiers on the bounce, equalling Colin Stein's record, but there should still be enough in this squad to get the job done.

Whether Clarke goes with just Che Adams up top or he opts to hand a supporting role to the likes of Kevin Nisbet or even uncapped Stoke striker Jacob Brown, who has been tipped to be handed his debut, they are capable of causing the hosts plenty of problems.

Lyndon Dykes celebrates Scotland's win against the Faroe Islands. (Tony Nicoletti Daily Record)

The absence of Scott McTominay - the stoppage time hero against Israel - with a throat infection is another tough one to swallow ahead of such a huge game.

But Moldova's first choice goalkeeper Cristian Avram is missing through injury and Olympiakos defender Oleg Reabciuk is suspended, so that should unsettle the group's basement boys at the back.

Hopefully Scotland can take advantage and see this through with Monday's Denmark clash to spare.

Another bit of McGinn magic or a late Hendry header. Whatever, however, whenever - just get us over the line, that's all that matters.

Prediction: Moldova 0 Scotland 2

ANDY McGILVRAY

(REUTERS)

This is it; this is the big one. A Scotland win secures us a play-off slot, and it's entirely in our own hands, with Steve Clarke's side actually on a bit of form and protecting a four-game winning streak.

Having squeaked past the Faroe Islands in what I suspected would be a tense affair, I'm hoping Scotland can regain their form and continue that winning run in style.

While this is exactly the type of game that has historically seen us come unstuck in a qualifying campaign, I hope this time it's different.

Moldova have lost their last four, Scotland have won the same number of games, and it's exactly that sort of sequence that will be concerning for the older fans amongst the support. As I've said before, this is not our first rodeo.

However, we can have a sense of positivity and it isn't all doom and gloom with Scotland these days, so hopefully we can recapture the form (or luck) we showed in Austria.

My heart says 2-0 and a sense of relief for us all, but that's not the Scotland way, so I'm going for a 2-1 win.

Prediction: Moldova 1 Scotland 2

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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