Ikechi Anya's first-half strike gave battling Scotland a 1-0 friendly win over Czech Republic at the Generali Arena in Prague.

The home side had hit the woodwork before the Watford winger raced on to a Ross McCormack pass in the 10th minute to drive low past goalkeeper Tomas Koubek.

The Czechs fought back fiercely and Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor was peppered with attempts on goal but managed to keep the home side at bay with a string of saves in the first half, with his defence helping out after the break to keep the Czechs out.

Looking ahead to the summer's European Championship in France, the hosts' manager Pavel Vrba gave first starts to goalkeeper Tomas Koubek and Martin Frydek.

Before the game there was a minute's silence for Holland great Johan Cruyff, who passed away earlier in the day.

McLean was pushed up in support of McCormack, whose last game was against Holland two years ago.

The first scare for the visitors came in the eighth minute when Christophe Berra fouled Vladimir Darida 25 yards out.

Boreck Dockel curled a wonderful free-kick against the bar with Allan McGregor beaten and David Limbersky's header from the rebound was heading for the opposite corner before the Scotland keeper clawed it away for a corner which the Scots survived.

Moments later, McCormack sent Anya racing clear at the other end and the Watford winger drilled his shot low past Koubek to give the Scots the lead.

Czech Republic responded fiercely and, with the Scots under pressure, McGregor then made a brilliant save from Darida's piledriver from distance before blocking an angled drive from Josef Sural.

Another save from the Hull goalkeeper, this time from Tomas Necid, confirmed McGregor was in for one of his busier nights.

The goal seemed to have sparked the Czechs into life and they attacked the Scots from all angles with pace and power, necessitating some desperate defending at times.

The home side's pressure had subsided just before the interval but they had Scotland on the back foot from the restart.

Necid headed a Limbersky cross wide from 10 yards in the 51st minute before his close-range drive was blocked by Hutton, Scotland surviving once more.

At the other end, in a rare Scotland attack, McLean took a pass from Anya and drove across the six-yard box but found no takers.

In the 58th minute Barry Bannan replaced Andrew Robertson and Matt Phillips came on for McLean, and the QPR player headed straight at Koubek moments later.

Still the Czech Republic came forward looking for the leveller but there was a penalty claim in the 73rd minute when Hutton was challenged inside the home box by Limbersky but Irish referee Paul McLaughlin took no action.

Tony Watt came on for McCormack in the 79th minute to make his debut, but a few minutes later McGregor had to throw himself to the left to push the ball around the post after it had come off substitute Daniel Kolar and was heading towards the bottom corner.

In the 84th minute Phillips headed an Anya cross past the post before the goalscorer made way for Birmingham defender Paul Caddis, another debutant, who helped Strachan's side see out three added minutes for the morale-boosting win.