England manager Sam Allardyce says his lads had no business dropping points against Slovakia on Sunday in their opening game of the 2018 World Cup qualifying series.
Adam Lallana spared England's blushes with an injury-time strike as Allardyce's reign started with a vital victory which now puts them second in group F behind Scotland with goals difference.
The former West Ham United and Sunderland boss who took over the Three Lions reins following the exit of Roy Hodgson after a disappointing Euros campaign in France believes the victory could be key to their qualifying campaign.
"It was pretty nerve-racking at the end because the 10 men scenario meant we must win. We got what we deserved in the end and won in the last minute.
"Perhaps their keeper shouldn't have stayed down so long. Theo Walcott's was definitely a goal. We have dominated the game and got a very important win."
Allardyce claimed before the game that he might be satisfied with a draw against a Slovakian side who shut England out in a 0-0 group-stage draw at Euro 2016 - but that would not have been the case had they failed to profit from their numerical disadvantage here in Trnava.
England struggled to break Slovakia's resistance in this opening World Cup qualifier - even when they were reduced to 10 men after captain Martin Skrtel's 57th-minute dismissal for a foul on Harry Kane.
Lallana had been England's best hope of a goal as he struck the post and forced a fine save from Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik before his decisive intervention seconds from the final whistle.
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