It is up in news today that England conveyed a 2-0 qualifying triumph that keeps them immovably on course for one year from now’s World Cup finals however a vast Wembley group were not really enchanted by the toll on offer.
In Southgate’s defense a constrained Lithuania side spent most of the evening stayed outdoors inside their own half, working constantly to disrupt England’s over-consider passing. Goals in every half by the returning Jermain Defoe and Jamie Vardy ensured the three points which kept up England’s hold on Group F yet Southgate was honest in his assessment of his first aggressive game since being named full-time mentor.
“Going forward we need to ensure we are moving the ball a bit quicker and making more runs in behind,” the former under-21 manager who replaced the sacked Sam Allardyce initially on a caretaker basis last year, told reporters.
“We have individual players who will play better than they did today. There are times when you know you’re going to win the game and perhaps don’t reach the levels we did against Germany.
“We would have liked to have scored more. It’s difficult when a team comes to pack the defence but credit to us we kept pushing. We were adventurous in looking for a third.
“I won’t be eulogising about the performance but overall it was a case of job done.”
England delighted in 72 percent of possession against Lithuania and had 21 objective attempts to the visitors’ four, yet struggled to open up a side they beat 4-0 and 3-0 in meeting all requirements for Euro 2016.
Raheem Sterling set up the exuberant Defoe’s opener however neglected to truly spark, Adam Lallana created some advising passes while Dele Alli struggled to have an effect.
Vardy and Marcus Rashford offered some additional impetus when they were presented in the second half. “It wasn’t pretty was it but we got the goals we wanted,” Hart said. “Lithuania were a better team than they gave themselves credit for. We would love to have scored five or six but we didn’t. We got the win and we’re top of the group.”
