Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain nodded Roy Hodgson's men ahead just after the half-hour mark and Wayne Rooney doubled the lead early in the second period as the visitors looked set to record a comprehensive victory north of the border.

Scotland rallied and were back in it with seven minutes to go courtesy of Andy Robertson's well-worked goal but Rooney's second and England's third immediately afterwards rubber-stamped a deserved victory.

Strachan was visibly disappointed in the aftermath but chose to focus on an impressive England performance and highlight the three points gained from Scotland's Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Friday.

He told Sky Sports: "I've got to take it as a year and the year has been good to us.

"We got together 10 days ago and our objective was to get three points against a good Republic of Ireland side. We've got that and we've been pleased with that.

"We're disappointed to finish the year with a defeat. There could be a couple of things that made that happen tonight. One was definitely an England side that was determined and as intense as I've seen them for a long time.

"I think we've got to say well done to England. That's a team full of Champions League players. We're maybe a bit mentally tired from Friday. Physically yes, but mentally I think too and I think England spooked us with an intensity early in the game and we never really got our rhythm going again.

"We could have passed the ball better but England were after us and they tested that. When you take on a terrific England side like that, and that's as good as I've seen England play for a while, you've got to have at least 10 players playing well. If you asked our lads tonight, I don't think many of them would put their hand up.

"Saying that, we got the three points we were after and that leaves us in a good position in the group that we're in."