Marcus Rashford bounces back against Slovakia and England grab the win

By the end, England could reflect on a satisfying evening’s work and, barring an almost improbable collapse, a place at the World Cup next summer. All they need are two points from their final games against Slovenia and Lithuania and though there are still clearly imperfections within Gareth Southgate’s team, it is difficult to think even England, enjoying the view from the top of group F, could make a pig’s ear of it now.

They did toy with the idea here bearing in mind they were losing inside the opening three minutes but Eric Dier’s equaliser spared them the possibility of another angry reaction from their own fans and it turned out to be another night when Marcus Rashford advanced his case as the most exhilarating player available to Southgate. Rashford had been at fault for Slovakia’s goal and a lesser player might have allowed it to jar his confidence on the night he had replaced Raheem Sterling in the starting lineup.

Rashford’s response was altogether more impressive, including the brilliantly struck shot that gave England the lead just before the hour. The goal was a beauty but perhaps the most impressive part was his absolute determination to shape the game positively because this was a night that could easily have gone against England after he had lost the ball in the move that led to the opening goal.

The last time England lost a qualifying match at Wembley was 10 years ago against Croatia and it resulted in Steve McClaren – aka the “Wally with the Brolly” – losing his job. England were bumped out of Euro 2008 on that occasion and it quickly became apparent that Slovakia fancied themselves to make this another chastening experience for their opponents.

Stanislav Lobotka’s early goal was a personal ordeal for Rashford and it certainly did not look too inspired on Southgate’s part to give the Manchester United player a new role as a right-sided midfielder. Rashford’s best work for his club has been in attack, predominantly when he cuts in from the left. He is not cut out to operate in a four-man midfield and it was no coincidence that when he switched to his usual role England started to look more dangerous.

One-nil down before most of their players had even a scuff of grass on their kits, the rest of the night was to become a test of England’s nerve and, to begin with, there was not an awful lot to encourage the crowd. Slovakia moved the ball quickly and seemed invigorated by the early breakthrough. Joe Hart’s part in the goal will not quell the debate about whether he deserves to keep his place and far too many passes were misplaced during the opening half an hour.

It was tempting to think a team that had been verbally abused by their own fans in Malta last Friday might have heard more dissent had the game reached half-time with Slovakia winning. Instead, Dier’s 37th-minute equaliser changed the mood and there was a reprieve for England just before the interval when Vladimir Weiss dispossessed Gary Cahill 30 yards out and set on a free run towards goal. Kyle Walker did exceptionally well to catch up but in his haste to save the situation he clipped his opponent’s legs and brought him down. A free-kick in that position would have meant an automatic red card and the right-back was fortunate, in the extreme, that the French referee, Clement Turpin, missed it.

1:29

Dier’s goal came from a corner on the right and if Rashford’s earlier mistake had been weighing on his mind, it had also become apparent that England’s youngest player was intent on making amends. Rashford aimed the corner to the near post and Dier had peeled away from two defenders to score with a rising, first-time shot. It was an awkward angle, with the ball coming to him at speed, but Dier took the shot with great expertise, adjusting his feet quickly and taking the ball on the half-volley.

Hart had not looked entirely impressive for Slovakia’s goal but he did at least keep out Adam Nemec’s volley 10 minutes into the second half after the kind of slick, passing exchange that England’s supporters must crave from their own team. It was another reminder of England’s shortcomings but at the other end there were also promising signs that Southgate’s players could get behind their opponents.

Dele Alli could not turn in the rebound after a Harry Kane shot had come back off the goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka, and it was only a couple of minutes later that Rashford let fly from 25 yards for England’s second goal. His night had been transformed and his early error did not seem so important by the end. It was, however, a mistake that should teach him a thing or two about the dangers of overplaying in his own half. He not only lost the ball but also failed to track back quickly enough as Lobotka had exchanged passes with Nemec before surging into the penalty area to stab his shot past Hart.

England’s goalkeeper had shown again that he is no longer the highly accomplished shot-stopper of old but, that apart, the only disappointment for the group leaders came in the form of Alli’s one-fingered salute in the second half. It was not clear who he was directing it towards – though the suspicion was that it was meant for the referee – or how he imagined it would not be picked up by the television cameras.