Wayne will get another chance

The promising Saints full-back made his first start for Howard Wilkinson's side who were torn apart at St Andrews by a technically superior Spanish side.

Despite his obvious disappointment at his side's heaviest ever home defeat, the England coach stressed he will not hold the performance against any of his players provided they respond in the right way.

He said: "Wayne will be judged not on this game but by what he learns from it. This was his first start and I don't think it is fair to judge him on that one performance.

"He, like the rest of the defenders, found the tide was coming in particularly during the first half of the game.

"Everyone will get another chance - no-one is being sent to prison for this. It is a question of learning from it.

"He has done well for Southampton and I like the lad but international level is a big step up and he has a lot to learn. But that is what these games are about and he did OK."

Bridge was one of only three England outfield players not to be substituted as the Spanish dished out a footballing lesson.

He emerged with some credit and provided the best ball of the night, what you might call the cross of St Andrews. He delivered a pinpoint free-kick onto the head of Gareth Barry who nodded over when he should halved the deficit in injury-time at the end of the first half.

But Bridge had little chance to make his trademark surging runs forward, such was the Spanish strength in midfield which often left him outnumbered.

England went with a similar formation to Saints who are 4-3-3 in possession and a 4-5-1 in defence.

The key difference is that Southampton's two wide men up front will track back and drop in to cover but that did not happen last night, leaving both full-backs seriously exposed.

Frequently Bridge found himself one against two, and a very useful duo at that.Winger Joaquin Sanchez found good width in the space left by England's central midfield trio who squeezed in too tight.

But an even greater threat came from defender Fernando Varela who looks a quality prospect. His touch and vision and movement on and off the ball proved a real handful for the isolated Bridge, who nonetheless stuck to his task well.

Tiredness crept in towards the end on a heavy pitch which cut up badly and he might have cleared a long free-kick by the spanish keeper which bounced through for Varela to race on and square for Francisco Munoz to slot home the fourth.

The killer first-half goals both came down the opposite flank. The first on 13 minutes was pulled back by Xavier Hernandez to present Pablo with a simple tap-in.

The second, seven minutes later, was pure farce as John Terry left a harmless long punt for Paul Robinson who presumably shouted for it. But the keeper failed to kick clear, leaving Pablo to stroll the ball into the empty net.

The half-time England reshuffle helped and Shola Ameobi, Jonathan Greening and Mark wilson all missed one-on-ones before the Spaniards made it three on 63 minutes. This time Bridge came to close down Sanchez but the Spaniard dinked a chip over him for Gonzalo Colsa to head home. Then Xisco turned in a simple fourth goal.