England: Slovakia defender Jan Durica claims Group F match was fixed in Sam Allardyce side's favour

Slovakia defender Jan Durica has claimed the authorities would rather an established country qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 following England’s victory on Sunday evening.

Adam Lallana scored a 95th minute winner for Sam Allardyce’s side in Trnava after Slovak centre-back Martin Skrtel was dismissed for two bookable offenses on Tottenham striker Harry Kane, forcing to hosts to play the final 33 minutes with 10 men.

Allardyce said afterwards that England’s victory came thanks to a lucky coin he was given in the build-up to the Group F opener but Durica, a defender for Trabzonspor, appeared to imply that malevolent forces were at work to help England.

“There is only one place at the World Cup. Why should Slovakia go there when we have England in the group?” said Durica.

“Of course, they will always prefer the stronger team. Probably, the referee exactly knew how to do it. Today we might have played more than England.”

Kane, who was the subject of Skrtel’s two challenges added: “I felt the stamp. The ankle is okay now. I will have a check on it and see if it's fully okay, but there were a few challenges that I felt could have earned him a yellow card but it didn't come.

“It was just a matter of time, it was a silly thing for him to do because he was on a yellow. The ref has seen it and it deserved another yellow card.”