GARETH SOUTHGATE does not think the concession of a stoppage-time equaliser to Poland this evening should detract from the quality of his side’s efforts during this month’s international break.

England conceded their first goal since the Euro 2020 final as Polish substitute Damian Szymanski headed home Robert Lewandowski’s cross to salvage his side a point in Warsaw.

The goal cancelled out a superb long-range opener from Harry Kane, and scuppered England’s 100 per cent record during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Southgate’s side still boast a four-point lead at the top of Group I with four games to play though – home matches against Hungary and Albania and away games in Andorra and San Marino – and having watched his players put eight goals past Hungary and Andorra in their first two games of the international break, the England boss was proud of their performances.

“We conceded late, and of course that was a disappointment,” said Southgate. “But across the ten days the players have been together, they’ve been fantastic.

“We couldn’t be sure what sort of a reaction we would have after the summer, but we’ve had a really positive one and I think in the two away games, we’ve given, in the main, two very mature performances.”

While Poland manager Paulo Sousa made five second-half changes last night, Southgate opted not to use any of his replacements.

It could be argued that England’s players were beginning to tire in the closing stages as Szymanski headed home, but given his side’s overall control of the second half in particular, Southgate felt he was right to keep things as they were.

“We were in total control of the game, and to bring players into that moment (can be difficult),” said the former Middlesbrough manager. “Everybody was performing to a good level, and we were in control of possession. You can put players into the game who have had to sit in the stand, and it’s not so easy to come in in those latter stages.

“There were a couple of times we looked at it, but we said, ‘No, we’re doing well. No problem’. We were going to refresh the wide players right at the end, but really that would have been to run the clock down as much as anything, but before we could get them in, we had conceded the goal.”

Jack Grealish came in for some rough treatment from Poland’s defenders, and Southgate felt German referee Daniel Siebert could have been quicker to reach for his cards.

“I don’t know what the tally was, but I thought the three forwards for us were fouled a lot,” he said. “Sometimes, when you give an earlier yellow card, that means the defender can’t make further challenges or the next one’s a red.

“It was what it was tonight. I was a bit surprised at times, but it’s gone and done.”

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