YOUNG LIONS BITTEN TWICE IN LATE SURRENDER

ULTIMATELY, there are no ramifications after England’s brainfreeze in the final 10 minutes of a friendly Aidy Boothroyd labelled a ‘fact-finding mission’, but this will doubtless irk nonetheless. Slovenia Under 21s are no great shakes, an unimaginative team who did not seem to have much desire to enter England’s half, let alone score twice. The Young Lions enjoyed almost complete dominance — Eddie Nketiah and Sam Surridge the goalscorers — but left Maribor with only a draw. That will draw obvious comparisons to the chastening summer in Italy — that European Championship group-stage exit — when complacency and arrogance were used as reasons for blame. While deflated, Boothroyd cited seven substitutions and individual errors yesterday. ‘I’m not overly disappointed,’ said Boothroyd. ‘I’ve learnt quite a few things. I’m quite happy with a lot of stuff but disappointed to chuck away a two-goal lead.’ Slovenia had barely registered a shot before Dejan Petrovic scored with nine minutes left after a mistake by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Then, in stoppage time, Janez Pisek’s deflected free-kick wrongfooted Ramsdale. ‘Errors cost us but, as daft as it sounds, they’re good,’ said Boothroyd. ‘I’d rather have an error like this here when we’re experimenting because it means I can use it in the context of not wanting to do that in the European Championship or a qualifier.’ Bournemouth’s Ramsdale under-hit his pass to Jonathan Panzo. Tomi Horvat seized on that, squaring for Petrovic and Slovenia had a foothold they barely merited. Then it got worse, Panzo committing a foul on the edge of the box and Pisek finding a way through. Tuesday’s qualifier against Austria in Milton Keynes is a sterner test. ENGLAND (3-5-1-1): Ramsdale 6; Guehi 7, Panzo 6, Kelly 7.5 (Richards 62, 6); Aarons 7 (Justin 46, 6), Willock 6 (Gallagher 62, 6.5), Davies 7, Foden 8 (Skipp 62, 6), McNeil 6.5 (Wilmot 46, 6); Hudson-Odoi 7 (Brewster 46, 7); Nketiah 7 (Surridge 46, 7).

Referee: Daniel Stefanski (Poland).