WALES ended a run of six consecutive defeats to return to winning ways with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.
It was the perfect tonic for Wales boss Mark Hughes who had considered his future in the job following their play-off defeat against Russia last year.
But while Wales continue to battle with UEFA off the pitch in an attempt to replace Russia in Euro 2004, on the pitch they showed why they had come so close to qualifying for a major international tournament for the first time in over 40 years.
It was an emphatic performance which was made all the more impressive considering they had 10 regular squad members missing for this game and finished this match WITHOUT a single Premiership player on the pitch.
Hughes' side got off to the perfcect start with a goal through Cardiff City striker Robert Earnshaw.
It was a typical Earnie goal, with the pint sized striker latching onto a Gary Speed throughball before outpacing Steven Caldwell and slotting the ball passed the advancing Rab Douglas for 1-0 with only 44 seconds on the clock.
Nine minutes later Earnshaw almost made it two. Simon Davies broke from his own box following a Scotland corner, his pass eventually found Earnshaw who had his 20-yard-shot deflected wide for a corner.
A minute later it was Earnshaw again causing havoc in the Scotland penalty box heading Ryan Giggs' right-wing cross inches over the bar.
Scotland's first real chance of the half came with 23 minutes on the clock. Cardiff City defender Danny Gabbidon was robbed of the ball on the corner of the area by Manchester United's Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher found himself one on one with Mark Crossley but from an acute angle he shot straight at Mark Crossley.
Wales responded with some 'champagne' football and Davies was unlucky to see his shot blocked by Gary Naysmith. It was Davies' last real action of the half, injuring himself in the move, and five mninutes later he was replaced by Newport-born Paul Parry.
It was Parry's first cap for Wales and capped off a remarkable two months for Cardiff City's newest recruit. Six weeks ago he was playing for Hereford and less then two months later he was running out for Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
On the half-hour Wales again split the Scotland defence with a Crossley long-ball fliciked on by Giggs. His header found Earnshaw who found himself one on one with Douglas but the Celtic 'keeper did well saving the Cardiff City striker's goalbound shot.
But, six minutes later Earnie made no mistake to make it 2-0. Parry beat Fletcher on the left wing and released Giggs who floated in a pin-point cross for Earnshaw to head home, albeit off Gary Naymith, from six yards out for 2-0.
Both sides made two changes at half-time and it was Scotland who started the stronger with Paul Dickov drawing Darren Ward into a decent save.
James McFadden also forced Ward to save well, as Scotland looked to get back into the game. But it was Wales who extended their lead just before the hour with Robert Earnshaw scoring his third goal of the night.
Earnshaw latched onto Robbie Savage's through ball and the Welshman turned Paul Ritchie inside-out before firing past Douglas into the back of the top corner of the net for 3-0.
It was the first hat-trick scored by a Welshman since 1992 with Ian Rush scoring three times against the Faroe Islands.
Wales did score a fourth but referee Michael Ross ruled out Gareth Taylor' header adjuding that Speed had fouled while sending in his cross.
Dickov responded by hitting the Wales bar but it was the closest Scotland could get.
With 12 minutes remaining Taylor did make it four, latching onto Parry's through ball to beat off the challenge of Paul Ritchie and fire under the body of Douglas for 4-0.
It was the final action of a remarkable night that saw Wales finally return to winning ways.
Wales: M Crossley (D Ward 46), R Edwards (K Symons 84), D Gabbidon, A Melville, R Page, S Davies (P Parry), R Savage (C Fletcher 72), J Oster, R Earnshaw, G Speed (C Robinson 71), R Giggs (G Taylor 46). Subs not used: R Weston, N Roberts.
Scotland: R Douglas, J McNamara, G Naysmith (G Murty 46), C Dailly (YC 47), S Caldwell, P Ritchie, D Fletcher (A Webster 87), C Cameron (P Gallagher 66), K Miller, P Dickov, S Pearson. (J McFadden 46). Subs not used:G Caldwell, G Murty, G Teale. Attendance: 47,124 Referee: Michael Ross
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