Scots missed chance to be heroes - Gordon Strachan

Disappointed Scotland manager Gordon Strachan thinks his side squandered a chance to be heroes for years to come by losing 3-2 to England at Wembley.

The Scots twice led against the Auld Enemy in their first meeting in 14 years before Rickie Lambert's winner.

"It is a huge opportunity missed," Strachan said.

"It could have been a result that we would have been talking about in 40 years. That's where the players have missed out. I am hugely disappointed."

James Morrison's long-range strike squirmed past England goalkeeper Joe Hart to put Scotland ahead after 11 minutes of an impressive opening spell.

With centre-half Grant Hanley off the field receiving treatment, Theo Walcott sped through to equalise 18 minutes later, but Kenny Miller restored the lead after the break with a superb finish on the turn shortly after the break.

The lead only lasted four minutes as Danny Welbeck headed in from a Steven Gerrard cross.

Debutant Lambert rose to grab the second in similar circumstances, after which England dominated amid a flurry of further substitutions.

"It comes down to two free-kicks - the delivery," Strachan told BBC Scotland. "The ability to put a free-kick right where you want it - that makes a difference.

"But, if you want to be a top player, your concentration has to be 100%.

Miller (right) had put Scotland 2-1 ahead four minutes into the second half

"The last 20 minutes, we have kind of discounted it already. We were putting players on and off because I didn't want to send players back with calf strains and hamstring injuries.

"I was trying to do that and win the game at the same time and, with six subs, it is a bit disorganised as I was just trying to get some players on.

"I will take a lot from the first 70 and, when we had 11 men, England couldn't score from free play."

Scotland scorer Miller agreed that it was an opportunity missed but thought there were more signs that Scotland had improved after Strachan took over from previous boss Craig Levein.

"We are really disappointed," he said. "We have come away with nothing yet led twice at Wembley.

"We have lost two goals from set pieces and Danny and Ricky have had two free headers.

"But there was a fantastic result in Croatia and we've come here and showed we have recovered well from a disappointing World Cup campaign."

Somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 fans followed Scotland to Wembley and Miller thought it added to an occasion that should be back on the international calendar.

"It was a tremendous atmosphere and there's definitely an argument for making this a more regular fixture," the Vancouver Whitecaps striker said.