Don’t make Sterling the fall guy

HE has shown enough under Pep Guardiola to remind us that he remains an outstanding talent.

So let’s not get down on Raheem Sterling after this anti-climactic display from England before their late winner.

The Manchester City winger arrived here fresh from helping his club to an outstanding win over Chelsea.

Sterling has netted six times in nine games in City colours this season. He drew high praise from Guardiola on Saturday night at Stamford Bridge.

The 22-year-old cannot be held up as a scapegoat for a performance frighteningly lacking in the kind of vibrancy we all expected, considering the talent on show here at Wembley.

John Stones gave the ball away. So too Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand.

Joe Hart gave away a penalty in the third minute when he took out Josip Ilicic – but was fortunate the referee and his assistant were half-asleep.

So let’s not hold up Sterling as any kind of lightning rod for this particular display.

His was the ball from which the otherwise-impressive Marcus Rashford would probably have scored in the

62nd minute had he not tried to be too clever.

His was the 65th-minute placed effort only kept out by a last-ditch block by Bostjan Cesar, the defender who denied Sterling again just a few minutes later.

Slovenia had identified Sterling as a potential problem. They tried to muscle him out of it with midfielder Rajko Rotman eventually booked.

But Sterling began to show his class. And by the end he could leave north London safe in the knowledge the inquest into England’s performance would not be starting with him.