Aidy fades away after fast start from Eddie

U21: International Friendly ENGLAND’S youngsters threw away a two-goal lead late on as they were held by Slovenia.

An Eddie Nketiah penalty and a Sam Surridge strike had put Aidy Boothroyd (below) and his boys on course for a comfortable win in preparation for next Tuesday’s UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier against Austria.

But sloppiness at the back allowed Dejan Petrovic to pull one back eight minutes from time and Bournemouth keeper Aaraon Ramsdale then failed to hold Jan Pisek’s free-kick in injury time.

England had completely dominated until it became scrappy and ill-tempered in the second half.

Manchester City star Phil Foden shot narrowly over for the young Lions early on and Chelsea’s CallumHudson Odoi had a freekick blocked before Nketiah won a penalty. The Leeds loanee (above) was bundled over after a clever turn, and he sent Ziga Frelih the wrong way from the spot after 39 minutes.

Tempers boiled over after Surridge clipped Frelih attempting to reach a cross. David Zec pushed him over in retaliation and a number of players joined in the commotion.

Surridge, on loan at Swansea, made a bigger impression in the 70th minute when he pounced for England’s second after a header from Ben Wilmot had hit a post. But after all England’s good work, they began to unravel eight minutes from time.

Tomi Horvat pounced on a poor pass from keeper Ramsdale and squared for Petrovic to finish.

Slovenia applied further pressure in the closing minutes and it paid off when Pisek’s free-kick found its way through the wall and Ramsdale could not keep it out.