Millie Bright: 'We have got to reflect, evolve and get better as a team'

Millie Bright insists England will learn from their mistakes in Utrecht after being left to rue two disappointing goals in their UEFA Women’s Nations League defeat to the Netherlands.

The hosts were the better team in the first half and could have led by more than the one goal scored by Lieke Martens at the interval.

The Lionesses improved in the second half and had some really good opportunities before Alessia Russo equalised just after the hour mark.

But the visitors were left to pay the price of more disappointing defending when Renate Jansen fired in an impressive winner in the last minute of the game.

With the Netherlands losing 2-1 to Belgium last week and the Lionesses beating Scotland by the same scoreline on Friday night, it means both teams are now on three points after two games, with Belgium topping the group on six points.

Bright said: “It is hard because I think there were some really good parts of the game where we really dominated. I thought they were ruthless when they had their opportunities and to be honest we gifted them two goals which is really disappointing on our behalf.

“I think when you concede in that matter, that is the most disappointing thing, especially when games like this really matter but for us [we will] reflect.

“We are still well in it, it is just one game and it is one of those moments when we can all get our heads down and be negative but it is still all to play for.

“We have got to rest recover and go again, and reflect because games are getting harder and harder, these opponents are getting better and better. We have got to reflect, evolve, get better as a team and develop.

“There were difficult periods in both games and tonight we just couldn’t find that way to win. It is disappointing to concede the goals that we did.”

Sarina Wiegman’s decision to change formation and introduce Chloe Kelly at the interval made a difference in the second half as the Lionesses carried a great threat in attack.

 And Bright added: “Periods of the game were really good, where we did have a lot of the ball, and second half we came out a different team and put the passes together and had better quality of possession.

“So I think there were really good parts but when you gift two goals like that then it makes it very hard.

“They probably had fewer chances but were really clinical in those. We had a couple but weren’t ruthless in that area.”