Scotland ease to victory and give new head coach Kerr a satisfactory start

● Alexander and Emslie make a good impression in full international debuts

There were two new caps, chances for fringe players, and the reappearance after more than four years of Hibernian vice-captain Rachael Small, and overall Shelley Kerr was satisfied with a comfortable win in her first game as Scotland head coach.

“We’re delighted with the win and the performance,” said Kerr at the end of the game at the Hungarian Football Federation training headquarters outside Budapest.

“It wasn’t perfection – we knew it wouldn’t be because we’ve asked the players to take on a new style of play.

“We gave them three key things in every area of the pitch and we saw evidence of that. It was a bit stop-start in the second half but overall we got out of the game what we wanted.”

There was, finally, a first cap for Glasgow City goalkeeper Lee Alexander, while Manchester City forward Claire Emslie was also given her first start after two substitute appearances.

Both made their mark early in the game. Home captain Henrietta Csiszar prised open the Scotland defence with a pass to Fanni Vago, but Alexander moved off her line quickly to block the shot with her foot.

Lana Clelland prodded home from close range after 15 minutes for the first Scotland goal under Kerr.

Next up was Emslie who doubled the lead with an excellent strike, and her first Scotland goal, as she smashed the ball past Hungarian keeper Reka Szoks from 20 yards.

“I thought Claire was excellent in the first half, really explosive,” Kerr said. “She’s a two-footed player and her goal was fantastic.”

The only disappointment was too many missed chances, especially in a second half Scotland dominated. Hibs midfielder Lucy Graham, who made her debut six minutes after the interval, came close with a 25-yard shot which came back off the bar – but it wasn’t until a minute from the end that Jane Ross made it three. Everton produced another hugely disappointing display in their Europa League Group E opener in Reggio Emilia.

Their sloppiness was punished by a dynamic Atalanta side who scored three times in the first half through Andrea Masiello, captain Alejandro Gomez and Bryan Cristante.

While failing to mount anything resembling a fightback after the break, Koeman’s men at least avoided conceding any further goals, although Remo Freuler’s shot did connect with their crossbar.

The visitors did threaten the Atalanta goal in the 13th minute, Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike being parried by Etrit Berisha.

But then, from an Atalanta corner, the ball ricocheted off Phil Jagielka to the back post, where the unmarked Masiello scored easily.

Atalanta continued to press and Gomez made it 2-0 in the 41st minute when, from just outside the box, he cut inside and unleashed ashot that flew into the top corner.

Three minutes later Atalanta extended their lead via Cristante’s finish.