Frustrated Miller experiences a hint of deja vu over controversial decisions

Miller scored the opener and set up Darren Fletcher to put Scotland 2-1 ahead – moments after Jaroslav Plasil had levelled – with seven minutes left of Saturday’s crucial encounter against the Czech Republic.

Howver, he was left feeling robbed after two late decisions went against Scotland. Dutch referee Kevin Blom ruled Danny Wilson had fouled Jan Rezek in the box when it appeared the Liverpool defender had made contact with the ball and not the Czech sub, to allow Michal Kadlec to net a 90th-minute equaliser from the spot. Blom then turned down another penalty claim when Roman Hubnik appeared to catch Christophe Berra’s ankle – and booked the Wolves defender for diving. In the referee’s defence, Berra did appear to embelish his fall.

Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 ended when Christian Panucci headed a last-gasp winner for Italy at Hampden after Spanish referee Manuel Gonzalez bafflingly awarded the visitors a free-kick after Alan Hutton was barged over, and Miller was left with a familiar feeling.

“I know we never really got started in the second half and it felt as if we were just waiting for them to score, so we’re disappointed with that, but when you get your nose back in front again and then lose a goal the way we did, it’s like Italy from four years ago,” he said.

“Their penalty is soft and I think we’ve got a stonewaller at the other end. You’ve got to rely on the referees to get the major decisions right and he has probably got two wrong there. You can’t rely on them all the time but with the two decisions that have gone against us, we can feel hard done by.”

Miller did feel Scotland contributed to their own downfall, though.

“The decision of the penalty might have been wrong but there were a couple of incidents before where we could have maybe defended it a bit better,” he said.

But the 31-year-old believes refereeing decisions could ultimately cost Scotland their place in the finals after the Czechs remained five points ahead of Scotland in second place in Group I having played one game more.

“It probably will now,” the Cardiff striker said. “It’s an uphill effort. We always said the next three games were crucial, particularly this game because it gave us the opportunity to get points back on them.

“We’re disappointed that it’s maybe refereeing decisions again that have cost us. It’s very frustrating, particularly when I think it’s clear that the decisions have been wrong.”

Miller was hit with another blow from Blom when he was ruled out of tomorrow’s game against Lithuania after a second-half booking for fouling Tomas Hubschman.

Miller, also booked in the 3-2 defeat by Spain, said: “I’m very disappointed. It was harsh. The boy has jumped up straight away. It’s a soft booking, there is no doubt about it.”

The former Hibs, Rangers and Celtic striker also had more complaints about the referee after Berra accused the Dutchman of swearing at him during the game. “I’ll be honest, I thought the referee was decent up until then, maybe a couple of soft bookings,” Miller said. “But the way he spoke to Christophe – Christophe is not an aggressive lad and he basically got a bit of abuse from him. They want us to treat them with respect and not swear and shout but he shouted obscenities in Christophe’s face.

“It works both ways – they have got to respect the players and we have got to respect them.”

Scotland captain Fletcher has urged his team-mates not to allow their Euro 2012 qualification campaign to fizzle out entirely despite the disappointment. The captain is determined to make sure Scotland have a chance of pipping their rivals, even if they need to beat Spain in Alicante on the final night of the group to do so.

Scotland continue their campaign at home to Lithuania tomorrow night and Fletcher said: “We can’t just finish this group on a whimper. The Czechs have got two difficult games but if we don’t do our job then what they do is irrelevant. We don’t want it to be us not doing our jobs and then find out they have dropped points which meant we could have reached the play-offs. We have got to concentrate on ourselves and make sure we take maximum points to put them under a little bit of pressure.

“It’s a big ask now though because it’s out of our hands.”

Scott Brown joins Miller on the sidelines tomorrow after being among the nine players booked on Saturday.

Phil Bardsley, Alan Hutton and Charlie Adam are all injury doubts while Steven Naismith is taking painkillers for a hip problem.

And Naismith and David Goodwillie could be manager Craig Levein’s only two options for the centre-forward role as Craig Mackail-Smith is struggling with a back problem.

Fletcher said: “You saw Kenny and Scott’s performances, so they are going to be big misses.

“It’s difficult because they are two very important players for us but we are building a squad and there will be able replacements coming in.

“It gives someone else an opportunity to stake a claim for place in the team.”