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		</div><p><b>England were caught cold by a late Spain comeback but a positive performance at the end of a turbulent year will have only strengthened Gareth Southgate&#8217;s grip on the manager&#8217;s job. England 2 Spain 2</b></p>
<figure id="attachment_99660" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-99660" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxVdHqBWgAASZ8I.jpg-large.jpeg"><img src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CxVdHqBWgAASZ8I.jpg-large-1024x659.jpeg" alt="Jaime Vardy scored the second goal for England to put them up 2-1 at 48 minutes." width="640" height="412" class="size-large wp-image-99660" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99660" class="wp-caption-text">Jaime Vardy scored the second goal for England to put them up 2-1 at 48 minutes.</figcaption></figure>
<p><b>England lurched from one crisis to another as Roy Hodgson&#8217;s successor Sam Allardyce left after a mere 67 days, but interim manager Southgate has steadied the ship impressively and looked crestfallen after Isco secured Spain a 2-2 draw deep into stoppage-time.</b></p>
<p>Adam Lallana&#8217;s early penalty and the end of Jamie Vardy&#8217;s goal drought had brought a smile to those inside a sold-out Wembley, producing football which will have pleased those in the top echelons of the Football Association.</p>
<p>Such a positive display on top of Friday&#8217;s 3-0 win against oldest foes Scotland surely makes Southgate a shoo-in for the job full-time, although the closing stages underlined the work that remains.</p>
<p>Many inside Wembley applauded Liverpool flop Iago Aspas&#8217; stunning 90th-minute strike, but the overriding feeling was dejection as substitute Isco slotted a last-gasp equalizer. It was a frantic end to a match that started with Vardy somehow avoiding punishment for launching into a clearance that left Cesar Azpilicueta writhing in agony.</p>
<p>Vardy was soon back at the heart of things, with Jose Reina&#8217;s rush of blood saving the Leicester striker&#8217;s blushes.</p>
<p>Lallana&#8217;s exceptional cross from the right looked to have been wasted after the 29-year-old&#8217;s poor touch, only for Spain&#8217;s back-up goalkeeper to clip him.</p>
<p>Referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan pointed to the spot and Lallana coolly finished from the spot, with Southgate punching the air in delight. A third goal in as many international matches highlighted the attacking midfielder&#8217;s marked improvement of late, with his touch, vision and pressing proving a headache for Spain.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for England and Liverpool, Lallana&#8217;s night came to an abrupt end after just 27 minutes, limping off to be replaced by Theo Walcott.</p>
<p>The break in play saw the already tame atmosphere dissipate further, although a spate of bookings in quick succession raised the volume slightly.</p>
<p>Raheem Sterling, Inigo Martinez and Walcott were shown yellow cards in a first half which saw England look more comfortable in possession than the visitors.</p>
<p>Vitolo&#8217;s shot wide was the best Spain could muster, although John Stones&#8217; overhit pass caused a fright and led Eric Dier to wag his finger in frustration.</p>
<p>Such questionable decision-making almost cost England against Scotland and led former defender Southgate to call for bravery <i>&#8220;not stupidity&#8221;.</i></p>
<p>The interim manager had been pleased with his side&#8217;s attacking display in the 3-0 defeat of their oldest foes and there were a few promising passages from an England perspective before half-time.</p>
<p>Martinez had to hurriedly turn a superb Sterling cross behind his own goal, before fine play led to a cross just beyond Vardy&#8217;s reach.</p>
<p>The Leicester striker failed with a shot from the resulting corner before half-time, with Tom Heaton and Phil Jagielka coming on for a second half which started superbly for the hosts.</p>
<p>Walcott saw a shot deflected into the side-netting by Nacho shortly after the restart, with England extending their lead within three minutes.</p>
<p>Jordan Henderson, captaining the side with Wayne Rooney injured, sent over a fine ball that caught Spain napping, with Vardy showing no little determination to power a header past Reina.</p>
<p>The goal brought a smile to those inside Wembley, as did the mannequin-inspired celebration led by Vardy.</p>
<p>However, England were not standing still and the Leicester striker put Walcott through, only to be denied by a fine Reina save, before Dier turned the ball across the face of goal.</p>
<p>When Spain settled, Heaton did well to deny Silva as Nathaniel Clyne&#8217;s pressure helped clear the danger.</p>
<p>Nacho hacked clear at the other end as Jesse Lingard rounded Reina, but Spain were growing into the match as substitutions disrupted the flow.</p>
<p>Manchester United&#8217;s Ander Herrera came on for his Spain bow and West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell got his first minutes for England, whose players were treated to the odd rendition of Iceland&#8217;s Viking clap.</p>
<p>However, there were not many home fans left by the time Spain made their stunning comeback. An outstanding 90th-minute strike from Aspas was the first goal England had conceded since Euro 2016 &#8211; and it was soon followed by another.</p>
<p>Isco had flashed wide as Spain pushed for a stoppage-time leveller but he got his reward &#8211; and a draw for his country &#8211; after controlling impressively and slotting through Heaton&#8217;s legs.</p>
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