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Gareth Southgate claimed his England players need "help, support and encouragement" after his team qualified for the World Cup with a 1-0 win against Slovenia. The win came with a backdrop of supporters cheering the substitution of Raheem Sterling and a succession of paper aeroplanes being thrown onto the pitch at Wembley. Harry Kane's 92nd minute winner ensured that England at least confirmed their place at Russia 2018 with a win after Slovenia had threatened to emerge with a point. But England's unconvincing performance prompted some discord from the crowd -- one fan ran onto the pitch before being wrestled to the ground by security -- and Southgate made it clear in his postmatch news conference that the reaction from the stands was not helpful. "I'm aware of everything, of course, but my focus was on winning the game," Southgate said, when asked about bored fans throwing paper planes onto the pitch. "My focus was also on being there for this group of players who need help, need support, need encouragement in terms of what we're trying to do. "But it's the nature of playing for England and managing England. We're a country of high expectations. "I've seen Bobby Robson get to a World Cup semifinal and get hammered up until the quarterfinal stage. I can rationalise it all. I just have to keep winning football matches. "These players are learning how to win football matches. They've faced similar issues... the team we played against tonight had conceded four goals in the campaign, so it was never going to be a free-flowing 4-0. "We knew the kind of opponent we were facing. Did we set out to play as we did? No, of course not. But that's the way football is." England are now set to face Germany and Brazil in Wembley friendlies next month before discovering their World Cup opponents in the group stage draw on Dec. 1. But Southgate has cautioned against unrealistic expectations in Russia next summer, citing the lack of top-level experience in his squad as a problem for England. "They're young players we have to try and get behind and they're giving everything they've got," Southgate said. "But they haven't got Champions League or league championship winning medals in the group. "They're a work in progress, but they are giving everything for the shirt and they will improve in the next few years. "They're suffering the consequences of 25 years, 30 years, 40 years whatever, but that isn't their fault. We have to give them the backing to go and believe. "It depends where you'd like to be and what's realistic about how quickly you can improve. We have to maximise the capability and abilities we have. "Are we going to become Spain in the next eight months? No we're not. But they've got a squad of players who have won league titles and Champions League medals. "Until you win things and can prove yourself on that stage, you can't consider yourself in that company. But our lads have a chance to play in that company again now."
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