‘Naive’ Scots end Czech tournament with nine men

SCOTLANDU-19

Johnston 74pen

HUNGARY

Biro 35, B Szabo 87

1

Scotland ended a poor Euro Elite Round in Czech Republic yesterday after conceding a staggering four penalties and having three players sent off in only three games, writes Mark Walker in Zlin.

The Scots were reduced to nine men when Celtic’s Michael Johnston – who had earlier netted Scotland’s first goal of the tournament, from the penalty spot – was shown a red card late on for conceding another penalty.

Hungary were down to ten men by this stage and, after they had regained the lead from that penalty, Hibs’ Ryan Porteous was also shown a straight red for a late lunge on Hungary sub Balint Tomasvari in injury time.

However, manager Ricky Sbragia insisted his side aren’t dirty. He said: “I don’t think we’ve got a discipline problem. It’s just what the referee sees. On occasion, we play with the heart more than the brain and we need to change that. You might think there’s a discipline issue but that’s not why Michael was sent off. That wasn’t poor discipline, he was just tracking back. For Ryan’s red card, he didn’t go into maim the boy, it was honest tackle but their player was just too quick for him.

“Of all the things you can label against us, naivety is probably the biggest thing. In terms of the way these teams go down and get free-kicks. We try to be strong and brave but we’re naïve.

“We can’t teach our boys that. They’re just honest boys but sometimes you have to play with your brain. We’ve been our own worst enemy.”

After a mistake from Ross Mccrorie had gifted Bence Biro a first-half goal, Scotland broke their scoring duck with 16 minutes left when Daniel Harvie was pushed in the box and Johnston converted the spot kick, before another late penalty – converted by Bence Szabo – and the two late red cards soured another disappointing night even further.