Parris and Scott on target as under-par England see off Denmark

Nikita Parris and Jill Scott scored either side of the break as England Women beat Denmark 2-0 in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match.

Parris struck in first-half stoppage time at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium and Scott, the Lionesses’ captain for the afternoon, added a header just before the hour mark.

Denmark, the beaten Euro 2017 finalists who failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, had a Signe Bruun effort ruled out for handball just prior to Parris’ goal, and skipper Pernille Harder sent a curling free-kick narrowly wide at 2-0.

England’s preparations for the World Cup continue with a final warm-up game against New Zealand at Brighton’s Amex Stadium next Saturday, before their campaign gets under way on June 9 with a Group D clash against Scotland in Nice.