It’s not a big thing and I think there’s a big over-reaction to it. “You’ve got to beat 10 men when it comes around”.
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In the wake of the 1-0 win in Trvrna, Allardyce acknowledged that players’ mood changed on the morning of the match – a legacy, he said, of their round of 16 exit to Iceland.
Sam Allardyce hopes Adam Lallana’s late victor in Slovakia can help remove the “nervous tension” that exists around the England squad.
Much of the post-match debate centred on the performance of captain Wayne Rooney, a player Allardyce said was entitled to a free role due to his years of service as an England global. “He did play a little deeper than I thought he’d play, but I was pleased with his performance”.
“I think it was possession for possession’s sake for the opening 45 minutes rather than trying to break the opposition down”.
Lallana hit the post and substitute Theo Walcott had a goal ruled out for offside as Slovakia threatened to pull off a repeat of their 0-0 draw against England at Euro 2016.
That game was held up as indicative of England’s tournament failings, yet Allardyce on his debut as manager fielded nearly the same group of players against the same side and won.
Hodgson used him similarly throughout the Euros but the experiment appeared to be at an end after Jose Mourinho restored him to an attacking position at Manchester United.
“It was a huge relief for me, I’ll tell you that now”, Allardyce said.
England captain Wayne Rooney insists too much is being made of the role he plays in the side.
“People might talk now or if I don’t score in the next five or six games, it doesn’t bother me”.
“After the English team left, I went to my office with a bit of hope”. I know that if I continue doing what I am doing the goals will come, that is all I can do. All that may change, however, after he broke his England drought in his 27th global with a goal that he admitted “had been a long time coming”.
“Wayne played wherever he wanted to”, said Allardyce.
“Using his experience with a team, and playing as a team member, it’s not for me to say where he’s going to play”.
“But we are getting better in every game and it is a really boost that we won and hopefully we can kick on now in the rest of the group games”.
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The United forward also holds the record for the most goals scored for England (53) and the most appearances in competitive matches (70).
