Roy praises Lions' focus
Friday, 12 October, 2012
Roy Hodgson's reaction following comfortable win over San Marino
ROY HODGSON was pleased with England’s persistence after they beat San Marino at Wembley.
Two goals apiece from Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck and one from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sent the Three Lions top of World Cup qualifying Group H.
In truth, the hosts could have finished the night with a larger scoreline under their belts, but Hodgson said: “They play the way they play and do the best they can with the resources they’ve got.
“We knew it was going to be a case of attack versus defence.
“I watched their matches against Montenegro and Moldova and it was a lot less attack versus defence than tonight was because tonight that’s all it was for 93 minutes.
“But I’m pleased with the way we kept going and the way we kept probing and pleased the tempo of our play never dropped from the first minute until the last.”
England face a trip to Poland for their next qualifying match on Tuesday night.
Hodgson added: “It’s going to be a different challenge against Poland as they’re one of the group favourites alongside ourselves and Ukraine.
“I guess we bear the burden of being favourites in the group but that will be a tough game.
“But the good thing is we’ve come through tonight with a lot of players who didn’t play who will be fresh for that game.
“The one bad piece of news for us tonight is the injury to Theo Walcott which I thought came as a result of a poor challenge.”