Lionesses fans took to DEMAND the England Women’s team to ‘get off the bus’ and greet them at the Stadium of Light on Friday.
The shock moment came after their 2-1 victory over Scotland, which was their first match since suffering World Cup final heartache against Spain in August.
Two late goals in the first half by Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp made sure England began their Nations League campaign in style despite late pressure from the Scots.
After the game, players and staff headed straight into the team bus after the game, something which miffed off waiting fans who had been just metres away.
Footage uploaded onto social media shows fans chanting ‘get off the bus’ multiple times in the hope of meeting them.
Lionesses fans chanting ‘get off the bus’ after the game is a new level disrespect 😯 pic.twitter.com/i7gjQGMB4p
— Charlotte Wilkins (@cwilkins_8) September 22, 2023
When the video came to light online, however, the fans involved in demanding the staff and players off the coach, came under huge criticism.
The game itself saw Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp nod home for England in the first half at Stadium of Light to secure their first Nations League points.
Kirsty Hanson replied on the stroke of half-time for Scotland, with the visitors the better side after the break, with Hanson striking the crossbar.
Player ratings (as per Sky Sports)
England: Earps (7), Bronze (7), Carter (6), Greenwood (6), Bright (7), Daly (6), Zelem (6), Stanway (7), Hemp (7), James (6), Kelly (6).
Subs used: Toone (6).
Scotland: Gibson (6), Docherty (6), Corsie (7), Howard (6), Kerr (6), Weir (7), Hanson (8), McLaughlan (7), Emslie (7), Thomas (8), Grimshaw (7).
Subs used: Gallacher (6), Evans (6), Brown (n/a), Davidson (n/a).
Player of the match: Kirsty Hanson.
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England’s Lucy Bronze speaking to ITV:
“Scotland getting that goal right before half time changed the momentum of the game. First half we were by far the better team but in the second half it was more even.
“We made more mistakes, they got some confidence from the goal. In the first half they looked a bit shaky in the beginning but then second half they were more confident. A couple of sloppy passes from us let them back into the game.”
On her goal: “It was something we worked on in the World Cup but it never came off so saved it for tonight.”
England manager Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV:
“Very happy with three points, with the performance at moments I was happy other moments I wasn’t that happy because we were struggling a bit.
“The first half we dominated, we had moments where they could counter-attack but we reduced that a bit. Second half we had problems keeping the ball and we made some decisions that made it not easy for ourselves. They tried to score a goal and we didn’t get in the moment where we kept the ball really well and could go to their half. We kept just trying to solve problems all the time.”
On Chloe Kelly offside: “I haven’t seen it back. I was very surprised that the goal was cancelled.
On Lucy Bronze goal: “That was really good. We worked on that in the World Cup and that was the perfect pass, perfect timing and perfect header. But we had 2-0 and then one minute before half time we made it easy for them to score for 2-1. If we’d come in at 2-0 at half-time it would’ve been easier and at that moment that was what the score should be with the difference in level.”
On Nations League competition: “I think it’s good because we want competitive games. You don’t know what the score will be before a game. In World Cup qualification the difference was sometimes so big it wasn’t competitive. Sometimes it’s nice to win and have an easy win but that’s not sport, you shouldn’t know in sport what the result will be.”
Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa talking to ITV Sport: “We competed at the same level as England overall. A draw could have been perfectly possible. We came here to win and we showed we could do it. We competed at a very high level. I am very proud of my team.
“Part of the plan tactically, we knew England would attack. Once we were comfortable on the ball and growing in the game we started believing and grew in the game second half. We wanted to come and compete in the Nations League and develop as a team.”
“We are disappointed because we came here to win. We wanted to come here to compete and play and we did in some ways. We don’t speak about referees normally but I think it was a clear penalty (on Martha Thomas). Scotland was brilliant in many other moments, I hope you enjoyed it and this is the kind of performance they can produce.
“This is the next level of the women’s game. This is the level that Sarina [Wiegman] and the players are bringing the game to. We want to win games. We had the feeling we could get something out of the game now we can only take the positives and go again on Tuesday.
“I think we showed in the second half we are a team that needs to show our identity which is work hard, go to goal as quick as we can but also we want to have the ball. There were moments we showed our level but we could still be better on the ball. In the last minute it was England who were forced to play that side of the game because Scotland was good.”
On the penalty: “I have seen it very clearly live and I have no questions. I think it’s a clear penalty. I can just say my opinion. Hopefully we have a decision on another day. There is a degree of contact from behind. There’s nothing we can do now.”
This is what Twitter users said as fans took to DEMAND the England Women’s team to ‘get off the bus’ and greet them at the Stadium of Light…
@PeterJMacca: Those cardboard begging signs need banning honestly, just promotes a culture of expecting something just for being at the match. The players owe the fans nothing but their best effort on the pitch.
@shahanshahan: Did you chant “Stay on the bus”?
@kivraw: What really frustrates me is that players who don’t wanna deal with this will be branded rude and arrogant
@AndyRFCCharman: But women’s clubs themselves helped create this expectation over time with players signing autographs & posing for selfies around the pitch at the end of games. It was done to help increase engagement with fans & encourage increased attendances, so has that now backfired?
@Kelllyyyyyy05: These people aren’t “fans” their entitled people who think the players owe them something
@DamiAgunbiade: People don’t realise. These players have another game on Tuesday which they need be ready for. Also remember they have to fly to the Netherlands as well. There’s not much time to sign autographs & see everyone. They are on a tight schedule right now.
@Amy_Birtles: How embarrassing. It’s a game of football not a meet and greet. 🫣
@MottysMic: Forgive me here but this shows fans with big feeling of entitlement. Yes there is a lot of interaction after league games in women’s football. Bit different when on international duty. Some fans would do well to remember that.
@1moregayshark: Are these the same “fans” who complained when the players didn’t stop to meet them after traveling back from Australia? We are reaching new lows.
@anna_awfc: No, stay on the bus.
@RachMajor: Not fans imo
@char48901565: This is embarrassing! I was there tonight and the girls took time for fans, they can’t sign everything for everyone, they’d be there all night! They won, they gave their all! Some people are so self entitled 🙄
@Zebedee10: That’s terrible and so disrespectful to the team. I thought everyone going to the front from the 85th minute with all their signs was bad enough, but that’s another level.
@MadMackemuk: It must be a generational thing as when I started going in the 90s there were no signs begging, kids that wanted autographs stood in the carpark before the game and got what they got. It feels entitled this kind of stuff.
@jmarshall1964: The kind of fans that hold ‘Can I have a shirt?’ posters instead of messages of support. The Lionesses give enough of their time to fans with their packed playing schedule and post game signing autographs.Show some respect & be true fans, otherwise stay away or shut up.
@stellah_xxx: As someone who I from the Sunderland area, seeing these players in person was surreal. However there is no need for that. The atmosphere was incredible and I was hoping they would
@chrisgaudie: I was there last night, never again. I genuinely like to watch a game of football but this was spoiled for me by the cardboard waving kids and parents that facilitate it. It’s turned to garbage
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