Oh no... Blow to Scotland's Euro dream

Published on Thursday 18 October 2007 12:02

DISAPPOINTED football fans were left drowning their sorrows last night as Scotland's dream of qualifying for Euro 2008 took a major blow.

Thousands of fans were in optimistic mood as they poured into Edinburgh's pubs to watch the big match - only for Georgia to take an early lead. Craig Bennett, 25, who had finished work early to watch the game in The Tron, in Hunter Square, said: "It's not a good sign going down one goal after ten minutes or so."

Later, fans in the Three Sisters pub on the Cowgate launched a deafening shout for a penalty when James McFadden was brought down in the box. Donna Smith, 25, from Northfield, said: "It was a stone wall penalty and the ref ignored it."

The mood threatened to turn ugly after Georgia's second goal, with one fan smashing his glass in anger and another spitting at the outdoor TV screen. But after the final whistle most had recovered and were looking for comfort in next month's must-win Italy match.