England manager Gareth Southgate praises Marcus Rashford for match-winning display against Slovakia: 'He had a huge impact on the game'

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Marcus Rashford shrugged off an early error to score the goal that all but booked England's place in next summer's World Cup finals.

The Manchester United teenager gave the ball away just outside the area to let Stanislav Lobotka put Slovakia ahead on three minutes. The goal left Gareth Southgate's side facing defeat and a possible play-off to get to Russia.

But in front of England's smallest Wembley crowd for three years, Eric Dier equalised from a Rashford corner before the forward, who will be 20 next month, struck a superb shot from 23 yards to give England the win.

'It didn't surprise me,' said Southgate.

Marcus Rashford scored the winner as England beat Slovakia 2-1 at Wembley on Monday

Gareth Southgate praised the 19-year-old forward's display but insisted: 'It didn't surprise me'

'Having worked with him, he's such a mature character. The start surprised me. But it felt, the switch of wings, was important as well.

'It allowed him a slightly different defensive role, and he adapted very well to that. His maturity is excellent.

'You look at him and he's never in awe of the occasion. He doesn't have any fear of anything. I don't think the team did, either, and responded well.

'He's still a work in progress as we saw at the beginning of the game, but he's getting stronger.

'His impact, in taking people on and getting us up the pitch in the counter-attack, was huge. He had a huge impact on the game.'

Rashford earlier made a huge error to gift visitors Slovakia a third-minute lead at Wembley

But England turned the game on its head to win and Southgate praised his side's 'resilience' 

On his side's win, Southgate added: 'It's a big week for them To go through the experience in Malta on Friday, the spotlight of life as an England player over the last couple of days, and then to go behind here.

'The crowd could have turned but were actually fantastic. We had to show resilience, a good tactical reaction on the pitch. And, for a starting lineup who are still incredibly young, they're good experiences to go through because they build belief.

'Really pleased. In the second half we controlled the game really well. I am very proud of what the players have done. They showed real maturity. We didn't start the game well. We were too stretched without the ball, and didn't keep it well enough. '