Stark's young Scots went down 1-0 to Austria in Maria Enzersdorf last night, the visitors left to rue a series of missed opportunities to get something out of the game.

Despite the result, the manager was hugely encouraged by the performance against the top seeds in Group 10.

"We've got nothing to be afraid of in this group," said Stark, whose side still top the section with six points from three matches.

"Coming to play the top seeds in their own back yard, I came out of the game with a lot of positives.

"We've got nothing to be frightened of, that's for sure."

After having the better of the first half yesterday, Scotland fell behind to an Andreas Weimann goal in the 57th-minute.

But the visitors refused to lie down and should have equalised - and possibly even won the game - late on.

Substitute John Fleck fired a shot straight at the goalkeeper in the 80th minute, and then produced a header in the 85th which the Austrian goalkeeper Lukas Konigshoffer did well to save.

In the last minute of normal time following a goalmouth scramble, Paul Hanlon's flick came off the goalkeeper and out off the underside of the crossbar.

Stark was particularly pleased with the impact made by his substitutes, saying: "We felt that looking at our side, at our squad, that when they go out onto the pitch, I can always change things."

Next up for Scotland is October's home meeting with second seeds Belarus, who won their opening match against Austria last month.

That is followed by November's trip to Azerbaijan, who were beaten 1-0 in Albania yesterday.

Stark said: "We feel going through a campaign like this, it would be difficult to win all eight games.

"We can approach the game with Belarus with great confidence knowing that's going to be a tough game as well because they're of equal ability to Austria, I would say.

"But we're at home and we have to try to maximise the home games.

"I think if we can do that then we can go to Azerbaijan in November and be in a real okay position.

"But we've still got it all to do."