There was little of note for Scotland to get overly excited about on Tuesday night as they endured their fourth Nations League defeat. Pedro Martinez Losa’s side have taken just one point from a group they were always likely to struggle in given the calibre of opposition.
Unless there is a renaissance that generates maximum points from their closing double header against Belgium – away – and England at Hampden then they will face relegation into League B.
Still, Fiona Brown, the Scotland midfielder, was keen to defy the odds as she pointed to an improved performance if not result against The Netherlands on Tuesday. Scotland had more cohesion about them against the Dutch and Erin Cuthbert offered an aggression and bite that had been missed in Holland but Scotland’s only attacking moment of note came via a 93rd minute Sophie Howard header.
“It is difficult at times and it is hard lessons but I think we competed better,” said Brown. “The next step is that we need to believe we can compete against these times and challenge ourselves to get over the line. We go into every game wanting to win. “Sometimes it is better that there is an ultimatum and you know exactly what you have to do. We didn’t play to our best against Belgium when we had them at Hampden. But we went toe to toe with England so the challenge waits for us and it is up to us to take it.
“I think we are close. It is that little moment of being better on the ball in those final moments. We have got it in us and we all know that.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Sandy MacIvor spoke of her pride at making her Scotland debut after defecting from England to Scotland. The Manchester City pulled off one impressive first-half save and it will be interesting to see if she keeps the gloves going forward.
“When we played on Friday and I walked into the dressing room and saw the name on the back of my shirt, the feeling I had just summed everything up for me,” she said. "My Dad raised me to be a Scotland fan. I have a French Mum so the amount of English in me is quite limited! I grew up watching Scotland and to be sharing a pitch with some of these players is amazing for me.
“It is not a night I will forget in a hurry.”
