Gareth Southgate: I’ve loved being England manager

The future of Scotland boss Gordon Strachan is now being talked about, with a recent loss and draw before Friday’s loss to England.

– Three different England players scored a header in the same game for the first time since March 2015 v Lithuania, when Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Harry Kane did so.

Adam Lallana reckons England’s victory over Scotland was less comfortable than the 3-0 score line suggests.

“I don’t know but I think class is permanent, isn’t it?”

“I know how important it was to our supporters to win the game”. When will I think about me? Yes, probably when I’m just about to die. “There is lots to reflect upon and improve on but I’m delighted to deliver that result for everybody”, Southgate said. Apart from that, no. At this moment in time, it’s absolutely nothing to do with me.

“I could not ask anymore of what they have in their lockers”. We might not be the best in the world but you get the best out of them.

That was the first of a series of let-offs for England, who survived two heart-in-mouth moments at the start of the second half when James Forrest pulled a shot hideously wide from 10 metres and Robert Snodgrass had one blocked from a similar range. “It looks as though they’ll have a couple of players missing but they have strength in depth and a clear identity of how they play through all of their age groups”.

Southgate was hastily promoted from his role as England Under-21s coach in late September after Sam Allardyce fell foul of a newspaper sting.

Southgate’s determination to beat Scotland has seen him put his long-term future on the back-burner, saying maybe he is ” Buddhist in some way” as he does not think you can “force what the pathway is”.

“For the team, to come through a pressure environment and in the end to enjoy their football and control the game was great”, Southgate said.

“That’s not my decision”.

“At this moment in time I feel really proud at the way they played, the way they went about their job”.

“I’m going to enjoy tonight”, he told ITV.

Spain will also have rested a day less than England considering they play Macedonia on Saturday at home in their next World Cup qualification clash.

“I’ve loved doing it, there’s no doubt about that”. “I’ve really enjoyed the role and the responsibility”.

Asked where his future stands after the result Strachan said: “If you think I’m anxious about myself at this stage then you are sadly mistaken about my character”. But it’s been a brilliant experience.