Slovakia vs Scotland: UEFA Women’s Championship Qualification – BBC Sport

April’s 1-0 win at Hampden got the ball rolling after a rather flat opening 0-0 draw with Serbia and the Scots were rampant and ruthless in the Israel double-header, most notably in the final third.

The clinical edge that was lacking against Slovakia was in full swing, with Martha Thomas netting four in Budapest and Claire Emslie grabbing two.

Fellow forward Kirsty Hanson, who scored one herself at Hampden, says “belief and encouragement” has been key to the front three’s fine form, with Thomas leading the way with eight goals in her last four games in dark blue.

“They’re obviously in good form,” the Aston Villa winger told BBC Scotland. “Claire is smashing it out in the NWSL, Martha is scoring loads for Spurs and I think they both believe in me and I believe in them.

“It’s just nice, we work well off one another, we encourage each other, we really speak positively to each other and I think that’s really helped us on the pitch and off it.

“I know Martha had a tough time, but that season just there she really found her happiness and smile again. It just shows, when you get Martha in that good place, she’s unstoppable and we know that as a team, if we get the crosses in, she’ll get it, she’ll score no matter what.”

While the 10 goals in the first four games have delighted Martinez Losa, the loss of just one goal at the back has brought equal pleasure.

“No team can be competitive without being defensively consistent and reliable,” the head coach said. “I think we have that at this moment in time, but it is about repeating it and repeating it.

“I think in this moment, we are in a good point with the group.”

Slovakia, meanwhile, are themselves chasing third spot in the group ahead of Israel and a play-off place of their own.