THE power of successful Scotland teams has always been twinned with a recognition of what this country is good at. In a word, defiance.

And although this quality is now considered to be secondary to technical excellence it remains our stongest suit, as the 2-1 win over Georgia at Hampden Park confirmed.

On that score you won't find an argument from Roy Aitken, the new No.3 in the backroom staff, whose playing career at Celtic and with the national team was built on a combination of muscle and mindset.

Aitken, the manager Alex McLeish and his assistant Andy Watson, are fully aware of the deficiences that might have been exposed by the Georgians at the weekend, and will surely be heavily examined by Italy in Bari tomorrow night.

Equally, though, they are bright enough to recognise the strengths that have taken the team to the top of Group B and might, but just might, allow qualification to the finals of the European Championship in the summer of 2008.

The ethic instilled by McLeish's predecessor Walter Smith is intact. Just as he collected and organised the scraps left from the hapless regime of Berti Vogts, so McLeish has continued to nurture the process. Mutual dependence is paramount, the greatest good for the greatest number the driving force.

These are the qualities Aitken first embraced as a teenager at Celtic under the late Jock Stein and, later, Billy McNeill and David Hay. They remain as relevant to him today as they did when he first played in the top side on the east end of Glasgow as a 17-year-old.

"A major priority when Alex took over and asked Andy and myself to join him was to retain the team spirit that had been established by Walter and his guys," he says. "The players we are dealing with are motivated - that was clear from our first gathering. It's our job to channel and control this energy."

There were lengthy periods during Saturday's game when the Scots might have been embarrassed, and this despite the fact they could and should have put the result out of Georgia's reach within the opening 30 minutes. Yet, for all their purpose and attacking instincts, they were only a goal to the good, courtesy of an excellent 11th-minute header by Kris Boyd.

Shota Arveladve's equaliser unsettled a positive 4-4-2 formation and might have inflicted a serious casualty on lingering hopes of qualification for the finals of a major international competition for the first time since the World Cup in France in '98.

But give this collection of tradesmen their due. They knew how to keep on keeping on and Craig Beattie's winner, a minute from the end of the regulation 90 minutes, was a joy and one that allowed the country a hefty celebration.

Aitken is aware of the significance, not simply in terms of three points gained but also in the feelgood factor the result delivered.

"When Scotland win a match of this scale, in a major competition, it means so much to the crowd, to the country, and to the millions of Scots watching on television worldwide," he says.

"I know how it feels from personal experience as a fan and a player. Captaining Scotland during the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy was one of the finest achievements of my career.

"A lot, the majority, of this squad haven't been to that kind of stage. That's the challenge they now confront - to reach the finals of a major competition. It's a very special feeling."

However, there are no guarantees. Indeed, if the Scots could grasp even a point against the world champions in Bari tomorrow it would go down as a colossal result, up there with their victory over the winners of the ultimate prize, England, at Wembley in 1967.

The impossible dream? Aitken doesn't subscribe to that one although he does recognise this to be a seminal testing ground. "You never underestimate a team of the ability Italy enjoy," he says. "We will be respectful of their talents. We know their qualities but we believe we can match up to them.

"It's a massive game for them because they are presently fourth in the group. By no means, though, are they out of contention. I guess they wouldn't have forseen Scotland topping the table at this stage but that's the position we find ourselves in due to the work of Walter, and now Alex."

No question, the Scots will have to depend on the resolve that carried them through to a precious win at the weekend if they are to emerge from Bari with even one point.

But Aitken is convinced this group of players carry a mentality and sense of togetherness that just might provide a positive.

He sums up the solidity with a tale of the post-match celebrations on Saturday. "We went into the dressing room and Darren Fletcher and James McFadden were waiting to give everyone a hug. They missed out because of injuries but the very fact they were present and so enthusiastic speaks volumes about the spirit within the squad.

"This one-for-all sense has been built up over the past couple of years and we have inherited it. It's been a pleasure to work with these guys. I've always said the best thing to do in football behind playing the game is to coach, and it has been thoroughly enjoyable." Bear won't roar in Italy

ROY AITKEN reckons a repeat of his hairdryer treatment at the World Cup Finals in 1990 is not necessary for the current squad of highly motivated Scots.

Having lost 1-0 to minnows Costa Rica, skipper Aitken blasted his team-mates in the tunnel before the Sweden game... and it worked, with the Scots winning 2-1, although a 1-0 defeat by Brazil in the next game ended that campaign.

Now the Scotland No.3 believes no rousing team-talk is needed. He said: "I don't know if it is relevant to this occasion. We're going there in a totally different competition against arguably one of the best teams in the world. I do feel these players are well motivated for this game.

"The manager has said they have motivation and it's just a question of channelling that.

"They wear their hearts on their sleeve and wear the badge with a lot of pride."