Wiegman's unbeaten run over after their loss to Australia looking sluggish

All good things must come to an end and England’s unbeaten run under Sarina Wiegman is over.

After 30 games without defeat, the Lionesses were beaten on home soil by World Cup hosts Australia.

It was, undoubtedly, England’s worst performance under Wiegman so far. They were sluggish, poor in possession and careless in defence. They deserved to lose.

This performance and defeat should not cause panic, though it is a slight concern that England seemed so nervous at the back without Millie Bright. They had looked unsteady in their second half against Brazil and they were weak here too.

England could face Australia in the last 16 of the World Cup and, based on this evidence, you would Wiegman will want to avoid that outcome.

The manager was the picture of frustration for much of the game. Every time the TV camera panned to the Lionesses’ boss, she looked more and more disgusted - both by the football being played by her team and the dismal weather at Brentford’s Gtech Stadium.

This was the last fixture before Wiegman will name her World Cup squad and she is probably left with more questions than answers. She played a strong side here, with only two changes from the team that beat Brazil.

Chloe Kelly came in for Lauren James and Esme Morgan replaced the injured Alex Greenwood at centre back. James, however, was introduced in the 28th minute when Lauren Hemp, who was wearing a face mask after suffering a head injury against Brazil, indicated she was unable to continue.

Players who are not guaranteed a spot in the 23-player squad this summer, like Katie Robinson and Laura Coombs, were not given a look in.

England dominated possession in both halves but struggled to do much with it. Australia played on the break and it was a counter-attack that saw them take the lead in the 32nd minute.

Leah Williamson tried to head a long ball back to her goalkeeper Mary Earps but got it all wrong and Kerr was able to race in between the two to chip the ball into the back of the net.

The Chelsea striker was marginally offside but, with no VAR in use, the goal stood. It was a defensive calamity.

This was the first time England had been losing going into the half-time break. Wiegman may not look like a manager that can deliver the ‘hairdryer treatment’, but one former Netherlands player said her eyes can ‘spit fire’ and it doubtful she would have been impressed with England’s performance in those first 45 minutes.

Whatever she said, it had little effect. It was Australia who looked more likely of scoring and Kerr should have made it 2-0 but flicked an effort wide with the outside of her boot.

England were almost gifted a goal when Clare Hunt sliced James’ cross into the side-netting. James then forced a good save from Mackenzie Arnold with a low shot to the right corner.

But England were un-done on the counter-attack again as a cross from the right picked out Charlotte Grant in the box and her header hit the midriff of Williamson and bounced past a deceived Earps.

It was poor defending yet again and as the camera panned to Wiegman, she looked even more frustrated.

To sum up England’s night, Rachel Daly sent a free header wide when she should really have found the net.