The Lionesses reacted immediately and broke the deadlock 30 seconds into added time of the first half. Jill Scott, who was named today’s captain, was pulled down on the edge of the area which warranted a free-kick. Beth Mead clipped the ball into a busy box and as Denmark failed to clear the cross, Nikita Parris was there to take it down and drive her effort beyond Katrine Abel in goal.

With half hour left to play, England doubled their lead in beautiful style. Georgia Stanway drove through the heart of midfield and calmly passed the ball out to Mead on the left flank. The Arsenal attacker fizzed the ball into the back post and it was headed into the net by Scott from close range.

Phil Neville made a double substitution straight after the goal with both our Blues, Carney and Kirby, coming onto the field of play in replacement of Stanway and Parris. Kirby, who missed last month's friendlies against Canada and Spain, got stuck into the game immediately. A scramble in the Danish box left the no.10 on the floor due to being unfairly pushed and despite Kirby calling for a penalty, the referee signalled play on.

Chelsea Women captain Carney came on in her left midfield position and her pace and energy caused the Danes problems. She managed to wriggle past her marker on numerous occasions to supply crosses into the box for her England team-mates. An alert Kirby almost got on the end of one when she pounced on the loose ball but her effort drifted just wide.

Despite a slow start for the Lionesses, the two strikes either side of half-time were enough to edge a win over Denmark in the Midlands at Walsall's Banks' Stadium.