Lallana broke Slovakia's resistance five minutes into added time
Adam Lallana spared England's
embarrassment with an injury-time strike as Sam Allardyce's reign
started with victory in Slovakia.
England struggled to break
Slovakia's resistance in this opening World Cup qualifier - even when
they were reduced to 10 men after captain Martin Skrtel's 57th-minute
dismissal for a foul on Harry Kane.
Martin Skrtel was sent off after stamping on Harry Kane
Allardyce claimed before the
game that he might be satisfied with a draw against a Slovakian side who
shut England out in a 0-0 group-stage draw at Euro 2016 - but that
would not have been the case had they failed to profit from their
numerical advantage in Trnava.
Adam Lallana (left) scored with his 32nd shot for England
Lallana had been England's best
hope of a goal as he struck the post and forced a fine save from
Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik before his decisive intervention seconds
from the final whistle.
Liverpool's midfield man had failed to
score in his 26 previous England appearances but snatched the winner
here as his low shot squeezed under Kozacik just as Slovakia thought
they had survived a spell of sustained pressure near the end.
