Setback for Scotland

Scotland suffered their first competitive home defeat for 12 years as they were beaten 2-1 by the Czech Republic at Parkhead last night and all but ended their chances of automatic qualification for next year's finals.

After starting brightly, the Scots fell behind after 27 minutes against the run of play when a harshly-awarded free-kick found the net courtesy of the unfortunate Matt Elliott.

That own-goal from the Leicester defender was followed eight minutes later by a second Czech strike, Vladimir Smicer beating the offside trap to score.

David Hopkin was Craig Brown's selection surprise as a right wing-back in an attacking line-up led by fit-again Gary McAllister.

After nine minutes, Neil McCann, in a makeshift attack with Eoin Jess, had an acrobatic effort looping goal-wards which required Pavel Srnicek in the Czech goal to tip over his crossbar.

Scotland had impressed until this point but lost a free-kick which proved costly after 27 minutes when Hopkin was adjudged to have fouled Smicer on the edge of the area. Nedved stepped up and curled a dangerous free-kick into the area which beat Scotland 'keeper Neil Sullivan via his own player Elliott under pressure from Jan Suchoparek.

Scotland tried to respond but Patrik Berger's reverse pass put Smicer through on goal and he finished calmly.

Scotland manager, Brown, made a change five minutes into the second half, bringing off Davidson and bringing on Allan Johnston.

Scottish hopes were raised in the 68th minute when Eoin Jess scored his second goal in 15 internationals to put them back in the game but it proved too little too late.

Scotland: Sullivan, Weir, Boyd, Lambert, Elliott, Davidson (Johnston 52), Hopkin, Burley, Jess, McAllister (Hutchison 64), McCann. Subs Not Used: Gould, Whyte, McNamara, Durrant, Ritchie. Booked: Hopkin. Goals: Jess 68.

Czech Republic: Srnicek, Votava, Suchoparek, Nedved, Hornak, Hasek, Nemec, Poborsky (Rada 76), Lokvenc (Kuka 70), Smicer (Baranek 84), Berger. Subs Not Used: Vlcek, Koller, Cizek, Postulka. Booked: Baranek. Goals: Elliott 27 og, Smicer 35.

Referee: K Milton Nielsen (Denmark).