SCOTLAND were left with a mountain to climb in the Elite Round after crashing to a thumping defeat to Austria in the opening game in the Czech Republic.

But the young Scots were unhappy at a series of key refereeing decisions that went against them, including two penalties for Austria, awarded by the Greek ref.

Ricky Sbragia's side hit the post, claimed a Fraser Preston header crossed the line and had an excellent penalty claim turned down, but they were left to rue poor final balls, disappointing deliveries and an inability to turn second half dominance into goals.

And Sbragia insisted he wasn't happy at the referee's decisions and accepted they will now need to win their next two games against the hosts and Hungary to have a chance of qualifying for the Finals in Georgia.

He said: "I thought in general we did okay. They're a really good team, but I thought we forced it in the second half.

"I think the Fraser Preston one was over the line. The first penalty we conceded was because Harry Souttar was having a go at the ref so anything after it he's going to penalise Harry and that's what he did. I thought the Austrian lad has made a meal of it. He's went down like he's been shot by a sniper,

"We should have had a penalty too because there was contact. The penalties have killed us. They scored their second goal through a penalty totally against the run of play.

"Sometimes you are up against it when it comes to the officials and we told them that before the game. We know what they are like.

"We've now got to win the second game, but there's no way the scoreline reflected the game. "

Scotland went behind in Zlin after just eight minutes when a long range volley from Manuel Thurnwald thudded off the bar and Rapid Vienna striker Kelvin Arase reacted far quicker than the static Scots defender to poke the rebound home from a suspiciously offside posiition.

After that dismal start, Scotland survived a few more scares and pretty much dominated from midway through the first half onwards.

Manchester United starlet Ethan Hamilton delivered a peach of the ball into the box which was fumbled by the Austrian keeper, but no Scots strikers were alert enough to be on hand to stab it home.

Scotland also had a penalty claim when Ian Wilson was bundled over in the box

Just when it seemed certain Scotland would equalise, they gave themselves a mountain to climb when Harry Souttar was penalised for holding Marco Raguz in the box. Amel Jakupovic gave Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie no chance with the resulting spot kick.

Scotland steamed forward to try and salvage something and sub Preston of Sheffield Wednesday thought he's reduced the deficit with a header, but Ehmann clawed it away on the line.

Preston later revealed: "My header has crossed the line. But as I said, a few decisions went against us. It's never a 3-0 game.

“Even some of their players were laughing about the decision. The boys around that area knew it was a goal. I knew immediately it was in, I didn't even react, I just wanted to get the ball back to kick off again.

“The penalties they got were harsh and we should have had one ourselves."

And Scotland's misery was complete when Ross McCrorie was harshly adjudged to have handled a cross and Sandi Lovric put a unfair reflection on the game for the young Scots, who later hit the post through sub Scott Allardice.

Scotland (4-1-4-1): Robby McCrorie; Ralston, Ross McCrorie, Souttar, Harvie; Wilson (Allardice 73); Archibald (Johnston 71), Hamilton, Burt, Hill (Preston 71); Shaw.

Substitutes: Doohan, Gallacher, O'Hara, Porteous