ANNA SIGNEUL was still able to take positives despite her understrength side being well beaten at Firhill in their last game before Euro 2017 qualifying starts in Slovenia on Tuesday.

Norway were well worth their emphatic win, especially in the first half, but Signeul's side were were without three of their best players. Kim Little, Rachel Corsie and Ifeoma Dieke were all on the bench, and weren't involved in the proceedings at any stage.

"It was disappointing to concede four goals, but we can't play Norway without our best players," Signeul said. "If we had known we were going to have these problems we wouldn't have picked such a strong side for this match.

"In the first half they were much better than us, but we pressed much higher in the second. It was a learning experience for some of our younger players, and also some of the experienced ones.

"It's never good to lose a game 4-0, but we can't be too depressed by the scoreline."

In the circumstances it promised to be a busy night for Scotland captain Gemma Fay, winning her 184th cap, and she had to make several good first half saves as the Norwegians started brisklfy and with purpose.

Scotland's best response was speed down the flanks with Lisa Evans, especially having some notable moments down the right. The Bayern Munich attacker sent a beautifully weighted low cross into the Norwegian box which found it's way to the unmarked Leanne Crichton, but with the goal at her mercy she couldn't take advantage.

The Norwegians took the lead after 18 minutes with a terrific goal. Emilie Haavi collected the ball, looked up, and fired in a fierce, rising shot which hit the underside of the bar before nestling in the net behind Fay.

Far from buckling further under the pressure, Scotland created two good chances of their own at the other end. Almost inevitably Evans was involved in both, first setting up Christie Murray for a shot which spun off a defender and inches wide off the far post, and then Jane Ross at the near post following another low cross.

Three minutes before the interval Norway doubled their lead through the younger of the two Hegerberg sisters. A glancing header at the near post brought the Lyon striker her 20th international goal in 40 matches

Both sides changed their goalkeepers at half-time and Shannon Lynn was barely on the pitch before Norway went three ahead. The former Hibernian keeper couldn't hold the ball on the ground following a corner and it was bundled home by Nora Berge, another Bayern player.

The second-half changes included a debut for Hibs' attacking midfielder Lizzie Arnot, and a third cap for her club-mate Chloe Arthur.

Despite having been the better team, there was a further lesson in store for the home side. A rare attack in the direction of Lynn brought a fourth goal, this time for Andrine Tomter.