Gareth Southgate: England interim manager says he took over 'a mess'

England interim manager Gareth Southgate said he had inherited "a mess", after a goalless draw in Slovenia in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

Southgate succeeded Sam Allardyce last month, initially for four games, and led England to a home win over Malta before Tuesday's draw in Ljubljana.

England, who top Group F, had keeper Joe Hart to thank for a point.

"With the overall objective of qualifying, we have kept the team on track," said Southgate.

"But we have taken over a mess really and had to steady the ship."

The draw means England remain top of the group with seven points, two more than Lithuania and Slovenia.

Southgate, 46, stepped up from his role as England Under-21 boss to take temporary control of the senior team following Allardyce's departure.

His next game is a World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Wembley on 11 November, followed four days later by a friendly with Spain, as the Football Association searches for a permanent successor.

Allardyce, 61, left his post after one game following a Daily Telegraph investigation claiming he offered advice on how to "get around" rules on player transfers.

That followed England's disastrous Euro 2016 campaign, which saw Roy Hodgson resign after an embarrassing last-16 defeat by minnows Iceland.

Slovenia, ranked 67th in the world, had the best chances in the game, while England failed to a shot on target in the first half and managed just three overall - their lowest in a competitive game since v Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup.

Southgate had dropped captain Wayne Rooney, but the Manchester United forward came on for the last 20 minutes.

Chief football writer Phil McNulty: "There has to be a realism about what Southgate has walked into. He is in charge of a side that was made grimly aware of its place in the world order in - and he played no part in that.

"Southgate did, however, have two eminently winnable matches to start with and, while four points keeps them top of Group F, the draw in Slovenia was the first qualifier of any kind England have not won in three years, halting a run of 14 successive victories going back to 2013.

"He also has a squad that has talent, certainly enough to be producing better than what was on offer on Tuesday.

"So yes, to a degree Southgate is correct to suggest he inherited a mess - but equally England have also been sorely lacking in fresh inspiration."

Read more of Phil's blog on the England 'mess' here

Former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas on Radio 5 live: "It's a mess in of how it was rushed. Was he prepared for this? Probably not. He was preparing his under-21 side to get through to the European Championship so yes he inherited a mess but is there any need to actually say that">