England left it very late to give new manager Sam Allardyce a winning start, with Adam Lallana's first international goal securing a 1-0 win in Slovakia.
The hosts played much of the second half with 10 men after
Martin Škrtel's stamp on Harry Kane earned the former Liverpool man a second yellow card.
But it was one of the Reds' current crop who made the difference, beating Matúš Kozáčik after the four scheduled minutes of added time were up.
It was a huge relief for England and for Allardyce, who had seen a Theo Walcott goal ruled out for offside despite claims that the ball had come to him from a Slovakian defender.
https://twitter.com/itvfootball/status/772500401434288128
The abiding response after the game focused more on the result than the often-frustrating 90-plus minutes that preceded Lallana's late strike.
https://twitter.com/DavidHartrick/status/772493301920501760
https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/772489974902034433
Though a few were pleased for Lallana, who finally broke his international duck at the 27th time of asking.
https://twitter.com/kevinmccauley/status/772493057413578752
https://twitter.com/TintinnyTins/status/772492991713910784
There was a fair bit of schadenfreude directed at Kozáčik for his time-wasting antics.
https://twitter.com/calgildart/status/772493566107090944
https://twitter.com/McMilney/status/772493539351662592
https://twitter.com/Aaron_PM/status/772493998732808193
In the end it was a case of 'meet the new England, same as the old England'.
https://twitter.com/Dunmoreorless/status/772493278730129408
Time for the cycle of optimism to begin again. We give it a week.
https://twitter.com/RichieDriss/status/772493224053186560
https://twitter.com/brighty1971/status/772499300098138112
https://twitter.com/CallumStebbing/status/772498924368228357
And, of course, hats off to Big Sam Allardyce, the hero who we might not need, but probably the one who we all deserve.
https://twitter.com/chrismayerV1/status/772476607537831936
https://twitter.com/MundialMag/status/772493235210096640
https://twitter.com/djuaicgknan/status/772493059762298880
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