Adam Lallana strikes at the death to give Sam Allardyce winning England start

Adam Lallana struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give England a winning start under manager Sam Allardyce.

The Liverpool midfielder netted with England's 20th shot of the match to propel the Three Lions to the top of Group F, following Lithuania's 2-2 draw at home to Slovenia.

It was a scarcely deserved win against a Slovakia side who played over half an hour with ten men after Martin Skrtel's dismissal for a second yellow card following a stamp on Harry Kane that should have been a straight red.

England, who drew a blank against the Slovaks at Euro 2016, looked bereft of ideas until Lallana netted his first goal for his country in his 27th appearance, with a drilled finish low through the legs of goalkeeper Matus Kozacik from Danny Rose's cutback.

Allardyce used much the same personnel that came up short in France, and the team produced a performance just as lacking in guile and cutting edge as those under Roy Hodgson, while Wayne Rooney, supposedly a number 10, played bafflingly deep.

Theo Walcott had a late effort controversially chalked off for offside before Lallana struck to provoke a fist-pumping celebration from a relieved Allaryce on the touchline.

The Three Lions, who need to win the group to secure automatic qualification for the 2018 finals in Russia, next face Malta at Wembley on 8 October before travelling to Slovenia three days later.

The pre-match talk from manager Sam Allardyce was clear. Wayne Rooney was to play in the No. 10 role, and link up with lone striker Harry Kane. He was even more specific in his pre-match interview, saying that he hoped for a goal or an assist from Rooney against the Slovakians in Trnava.

So why did we often see the England captain going back into his own half to pick up the ball and trying to instigate attacks from there? It ruined any chance of England breaking down Jan Kozak's side in the final third – there were moments and passes where you needed a No.10 to run onto the ball around the area, but Rooney was 10 yards behind the play.

Was he overruling the new England boss? Or does the England skipper simply lack the discipline to carry out his duties when the game isn't going to plan?

The Liverpool midfielder finally got off the mark in his 27th match at international level with a drilled injury-time finish to secure all three points for manager Sam Allardyce in his first match in charge. But he came close to breaking his duck on 76 minutes with a curling effort that came back off the inside of Matus Kozacik's post.

Lallana was excellent at finding space all through the game, but came into his own when the Slovaks went down to ten men following Martin Skrtel's 57th minute dismissal.

Slovakia: Kozacik 6, Pekarik 7, Skrtel 5, Durica 8, Hubocan 7, Gregus 7, Pecovsky 6, Hamsik 5, Mak 6, Svento 6, Duris 6. Subs: Gyomber 7, Kubik 6, Kiss 6.

England: Hart 6, Walker 7, Cahill 7, Stones 6, Rose 7, Dier 7, Henderson 6, Lallana 8, Rooney 6, Sterling 7, Kane 5. Subs: Alli 7, Sturridge 7, Walker 7.

37'- CHANCE! Rose loses the ball down the right, but Svento is just not able to slide onto the low cross by Duris across the six-yard box.

38' – CHANCE! Poor defending allows Sterling space in the Slovakia right, but the Manchester City winger drags his shot past Kozacik's far post.

57' - SKRTEL OFF! He's already on a booking and it's hard to know if the second yellow comes for the initial foul on Kane, the stamp that followed or dissent. Whichever way, it's a thoroughly well-earned red.

76' – CHANCE! Lallana cuts in from the left but his effort rebounds off the inside of Kozacik's near post.

88' – CHANCE! Walker runs at the Slovakia defence, and tees up Sturridge, who curls a shot straight at Kozacik.

90' – DISALLOWED GOAL! Alli slips in Walcott, and the Arsenal player is offside when he taps in from Sturridge's return pass. But Kiss seems to have the last touch, and Rooney is furiously contesting the decision.

90+5' – GOAL!Slovakia 0-1 England. Lallana drills a late late shot from Rose's low cross from the left through the legs of the goalkeeper and England have nicked this!

England have now won four of their last five internationals against Slovakia. This is only the Slovaks' second defeat on home soil in 15 international matches.

Over their last 21 qualification matches, England have racked up 17 wins and four draws, with 63 goals scored and just seven conceded