But for the width of a crossbar Scotland might have kicked off their Nations League campaign with a success story.
As it was they had to settle for an outcome that leaves them without a point but with plaudits to take with them into their Hampden date with Belgium on Tuesday evening. If it all sounds like a familiar tale, there will be encouragement in the fact that this is an opening game in a campaign against the World Cup finalists and reigning European Champions in their own backyard.
It was a proverbial tale of two halves as Scotland waited until they were two goals down before shrugging off their respect for England. By the time Lucy Bronce and Lauren Hemp had given England a two-goal lead in front of just over 41,000 supporters inside the Stadium of Light, it looked as though Sarina Wiegman’s side were home and hosed.
Kirsty Hanson, Scotland’s best player, pulled them back into the game with a goal on the cusp of the half-time whistle and from there on Scotland were admirable in taking the game to England with the home support growing increasingly antsy as the game went on.
“We came here to win,” said Martinez Losa. “We wanted to come here to compete and to show that we can play and I think we did that.
“But we are disappointed not to do that. Scotland were brilliant in many other moments. We want to do it again now in other matches.
“This is the next level of the women’s game and this is where we are bringing this team. It is incredible for the game and it was an incredible atmosphere. We will never be happy losing games.
“We have to take the positives, recover and go again on Tuesday.
“We showed in the second-half. We are a team whose identity is to work hard, press and be aggressive but we also want to have the ball. There were moments we showed our level but we can do better on the ball.
“At this level, it is decided by small margins. This time it was England but this team is ready to go again on Tuesday.”
There had seemed to be an early portent of what was to come when Rachel McLaughlan was robbed by Rachel Daly as she tried to usher the ball out. It was a move that came to nothing but posted immediate notice of England’s threat.
Scotland could spot it; dealing with it was another question entirely. The opening period seemed to be a procession of play with England knocking the ball about with pace and menace and Scotland desperately trying to keep them at bay.
As the game went on Scotland slowly came out of their shell as they forced a couple of decent chances of their own.
Within a minute of Weir drawing a save from England keeper Mary Earps after she had let fly with an effort that looked to be heading for the left-hand corner that the goalkeeper was equal to.
Scotland, though, had a huge reprieve when Rachel Daly netted from Katie Zelem’s corner with Italian referee Maria Sole Caputi - without having VAR to call upon - ruled that Chloe Kelly was offside. Five minutes before the break England turned their dominance into a tangible lead with no way off the hook for Scotland this time.
Lauren James and Katie Zelem combined with the latter’s whipped delivery into the box met by the head of Bronze who directed her effort low past Gibson.
Scotland were irked, not just at the timing of the goal but also because Thomas had felt she ought to have had a penalty immediately beforehand after Millie Bright had gone through the back of her.
“It is a clear penalty. It changed the game,” said Martinez Losa. “I saw it clearly. We are polite at this level but Martha clearly felt that she had been fouled.”
Television pictures suggested she had just cause for complaint but with no VAR in use there was no means of checking, much to the frustration of the Scotland bench.
Their anger was compounded when England doubled their advantage. Nicola Docherty was caught out by Daly whose ball into the box was met by Hemp who stole in front of McLaughlan.
Scotland’s response was admirable and swift. Hanson pulled them back into the game on the cusp of the break when Emslie’s ball across the six-yard box was missed by everyone except Hanson who prodded past Earps.
England pushed to restore their second goal cushion in the second period and Daly really should have claimed it after Sophie Howard seemed to lose flight of the ball.
Scotland, again to their credit, continued to try to ask questions of their hosts. Hanson turned provider when she delivered a cross for Thomas who got a header away but never looked likely of causing Earps too much trouble.
As the home support got increasingly nervous, Scotland hit the woodwork as Hanson tried an audacious left-footed effort that came off the woodwork. Lauren James thought she had netted England's third in the dying embers of the game. An offside flag chopped it off but it would have been a harsh one for Scotland to take.
