Slovenia 0, England 0: England player ratings as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions drop points
Joe Hart: 9
Proved a point after his unceremonious discarding by Manchester City – and saved England one too. Made four vital stops, including one physics-defying effort, and showed leadership qualities by talking Gary Cahill and Jesse Lingard out of red cards in a fractious finish.
Kyle Walker: 6
The least culpable for a sloppy defensive performance and always willing to bring the ball out or make a lung-bursting surge down the right flank. Offered an option in attack but was infrequently used and England's struggles in penetrating Slovenia limited his action in the final third.
Gary Cahill: 6
England's most senior defender has to take a large share of the blame for an erratic rearguard. Highlights included a last-ditch tackle after he was put in trouble by a John Stones header, a sweeping diagonal pass for Danny Rose. Fortunate not to be sent off for getting man and ball with a high tackle.
John Stones: 7
At times brilliant, but occasionally a liability. Showed great anticipation in the tackle, consummate ease in possession and offered more incisive forward passing than any of England's midfielders, yet confidence saw him caught on the ball and put Gary Cahill in trouble with a poor header.
Danny Rose: 6
Dynamic down the left and had one of England's best efforts on goal when he expertly controlled Gary Cahill's raking pass, cut inside and dragged a shot narrowly wide in the second half. High-energy approach led to some panicked decisions in passing and being caught on the ball.
Eric Dier: 5
Useful defensive screen but the presence of Jordan Henderson in a parallel deep central midfield role felt like it rendered the Tottenham youngster redundant when England had possession. One suspect backpass also set up Slovenia for a free run on goal.
Jordan Henderson: 5
Preference for dropping deep to collect ball from centre-backs called into question Eric Dier's function and did little of note once in possession. Shone against Malta at the weekend but nothing like as influential here, when England could have used more bodies further forward.
Dele Alli: 5
Wayne Rooney will not have given up hope of reclaiming the No10 shirt after a limp display by Alli in the record goalscorer's favoured place. Looked for the ball and managed one decent second-half shot, but he and the rest of England's front four played like strangers.
Jesse Lingard: 6
A poor night redeemed in part by some late flashes of danger, including a low shot that worried Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Failed to link up effectively with Dele Alli or Daniel Sturridge and opponents seemed to quickly wide to his preference for cutting in from the left onto his right foot.
Theo Walcott: 5
Unrecognisable from the figure in devastating form for Arsenal so far this season. Not helped by England's difficulty in stringing passes together in the Slovenia half, but was unable to test hosts with his main weapon: pace. Failed to pick out Daniel Sturridge on rare occasion he found space in the box.
Daniel Sturridge: 5
Single-minded and improvisational approach fell flat this time, meaning the end results failed to justify the Liverpool striker's virtuoso style. Starved of openings but was set free by Jesse Lingard late in the game, only to scuff a weak shot at Jan Oblak when Wayne Rooney was ready to tap in.
Substitutes
Andros Townsend (Walcott, 62): 7. Injected pace and urgency sorely lacking from England's attack and, unlike team-mates, took risks in final third. Wayne Rooney (Alli, 73): 6. One decent shot whistled narrowly wide in a bright cameo for dropped star. Marcus Rashford (Sturridge, 82): 6. Made runs aplenty but got no service in brief appearance.