Norwich City number one Angus Gunn insists Scotland still aim to seal Euro2024 qualification by topping their group after a controversial 2-0 defeat to Spain on Thursday night.

After winning their first five qualifiers, including a 2-0 win over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March, the Scots came up short in Seville after a VAR call ruled out Scott McTominay’s whipped free-kick just before the hour mark with the game goalless.

Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk was sent to check his pitchside monitor and ruled an infringement by Scotland defender Jack Hendry on goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Alvaro Morata headed in after 73 minutes and substitute Oihan Sancet, making his debut, added a second with four minutes of normal time remaining to leave Steve Clarke’s men three points ahead of La Roja at the top of Group A, having played a game more.

Gunn’s first competitive defeat since linking up with the Scots has not dented confidence in the Tartan Army camp.

Spain take on third-placed Norway in Oslo on Sunday, and if the Norwegians drop points, Scotland’s place in Germany at next summer’s finals will be secured before games away at Georgia and home to Norway in November.

“We have put ourselves in an unbelievable position,” said Gunn, with Scotland now set for a glamour friendly against France in Lille next Tuesday. “From our point of view we have done a lot of the hard work early on in the group and we want to finish it off in the right way.

“We want to top the group as well so we have two more games and it might happen on Sunday but even if it does, we go away to Georgia and still try to win this group.

“I will probably watch it on Sunday. If it happens, it happens but we still have two more games.

“We have put ourselves in a good position and if it does happen on Sunday we deserve it.”

City team mate Kenny McLean was a late substitute for the Scots, who had put up a sturdy defensive display against the reigning Nations League winners. But it looked like they might be on their way to a smash-and-grab win when McTominay’s free-kick from near the byline flew into the net.

Gunn believes the decision to rule it out lifted the Spanish fans, and gave the home side the boost to go on and clinch the three points.

“We thought we went ahead and that was an unbelievable feeling at the time and it was gutting when it got chalked off,” he said, quoted by PA. “I thought we dealt with it quite well but I think it gave them more of a boost.

“Their crowd celebrated it like a goal and I think they got their tails up a little but which we had to deal with.

“I think we kept our emotions quite well even though there wasn’t much clarity around the decision, that was the most disappointing thing.

“But they are a top team and they went up the other end and scored and after that the momentum was with them.

“We are disappointed with the result. “But I said, we put ourselves in the position where we are still top of the group, still looking strong and hopefully still able to qualify soon.”