For all the consternation and hand-wringing that had followed defeat to New Zealand in their stalled send-off at Brighton, England managed to edge out Scotland with verve and ambition in the first half and by the skin of their teeth in the second in their opening World Cup game. The fear of an injury to Millie Bright, replaced by Abbie McManus after the Chelsea centre-back landed on her shoulder after stumbling over Erin Cuthbert, will not be the only worry for Phil Neville given how porous England’s defence were rendered by the end. Channelling Hull-era Phil Brown, he gave his side a public dressing-down on the field after the final whistle to ensure there are no further slip-ups. It was easy to see his point. The figure of a darting Nikita Parris, forehead gleaming in the oppressive Nice heat, leaping into the celebration for her first World Cup goal, fists pummelling the air, embodied England’s slick, impressive first-half performance when they looked set to see off their opponents with very little strain. Yet that late spell of Scotland pressure left Neville watching through latticed fingers. It was not hard to fear the worst given Scotland’s team hotel is the same…