England win first game under Sam Allardyce

All the focus has been on a first match in charge for new boss Sam Allardyce - a former Town central defender - and Adam Lallana's late goal in the 1-0 win in Trnava. He's won everything at Manchester United, more or less, and at Champions League and domestic level.

Harry Kane is not now the domineering number nine England need and want him to be, Raheem Sterling did not bring his Manchester City form with him to Trnava and Jordan Henderson failed to take his chance in the centre.

Lallana lasted the full distance, Reds skipper Jordan Henderson featured for 63 minutes before being replaced by Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli, while Daniel Sturridge appeared off the bench for the final nine minutes in place of Harry Kane.

Allardyce meant he trusted Rooney to read the game and play where the team needed him to and insisted he would be standing by his man.

Allardyce may try to promote Rooney's freedom to play anywhere as a sign of worldwide experience, but surely such a performance has to be questioned?

Jan Durica and England's Adam Lallana battle for the ball.

Allardyce, who succeeded Roy Hodgson after Euro 2016, said the winning goal was "richly deserved", but admitted it had come as a "huge relief". They want you to show the way forward and be successful.

"We, as a team, have the character and the enthusiasm".

When asked about the letter by during the pre-match conference, Allardyce, 61, said he "might be able to oblige".

"I had a few chances tonight".

"There is a long way to go until the scars have been healed but it is a start". He hit the post with a superb turn and shot on 75 minutes, and had another effort well saved.

But after substitute Theo Walcott was denied a late victor by the offside flag, Lallana struck his first worldwide goal to break the hearts of the home side and give England a positive start in their qualification campaign for the 2018 tournament in Russian Federation.