3 things we learned from Allardyce's 1st match as England boss

England supporters saw Sunday much of the same football that forced Roy Hodgson's ouster as manager, but the Three Lions punched in a result with the last kick of the game.

England only looked likely to score a winner when it gained a man advantage against Slovakia, the first contest of 2018 World Cup qualifying, and a fair bit of pressure in the final moments of extra time paid dividends.

Adam Lallana - who also hit the post with a spin-and-turn effort - slipped an accurate shot past questionable goalkeeper Matus Kozacik in the 94th minute to ensure Sam Allardyce's tenure began on a positive note.

Related - Watch: Lallana saves Allardyce's blushes with 95th-minute winner

But the manner in which England earned all three points is still a concern. Perseverance alone saw the team through in the end.

Here are three key points from England's performance in Trnava:

England lacking ideas in final third

The game was dull. There's no other way to put it. England struggled to break through Slovakia's defence and seemed content to send in balls from the flanks. Allardyce's lot attempted 33 crosses in total - a ceiling Hodgson's teams rarely reached - and many of them went wide. The final ball and touch were poor.

England's first shot on target came in the 64th minute, and only after Dele Alli emerged from the substitutes' bench did England find space behind the defenders.

The Tottenham midfielder, criticised for his poor showings at Euro 2016, replaced a disappointing Jordan Henderson and did much more in a No. 10 position. He played bright passes and put Slovakia on its toes.

There weren't any problems defensively, and centre-back John Stones even had the licence to push forward.

The overlying concern was a lack of creativity.

England's possession had no bite, and there was no width to the attacks. Despite his encouraging start to the season under Pep Guardiola, Raheem Sterling was a frustrating presence on both the left and right wings, and Harry Kane was isolated as the only striker.

The disconnect between the midfielders and the attackers was evident.

Rooney deeper than expected

When the team sheets were revealed, Wayne Rooney was slated to play the No. 10 role behind Kane. The shape of the England team in the first half looked more like a 4-3-3, and when Allardyce reverted to the predetermined 4-2-3-1, Rooney still defaulted to a central midfield role.

There were times when Stones found himself in a more advanced position than Rooney, who appeared comfortable to stay behind and recycle possession.

"That's where Sam wanted me to play. We worked on it through the week," said the skipper, who earned a record 116th cap for his country. "When the team was announced a lot of people thought I was going to play higher, but it suits me."

Related: Rooney surpasses Beckham, becomes England's most-capped outfield player

The problem with playing Rooney in a deeper position is that England loses an offensive contributor. He's also not proven to be any more resourceful in the centre of the park, where he undoubtedly receives the ball more often but does far less with it.

However, it's clear he's happy to play there without worrying about running at defenders or competing in terms of pace.

Kane an ineffective option upfront

By the end of the first 45 minutes, Kane had just three more touches on the ball than his goalkeeper. He was a static presence in the lineup, and unable to produce anything noteworthy. The Tottenham striker drew some of the heaviest criticism during Euro 2016, and he looked no more inspired against Slovakia.

Drawing the second yellow card on Martin Skrtel may have been his greatest contribution Sunday. Skrtel stamped on Kane's calf to get sent off, which he seemed determined to do today, and left a hole in an otherwise airtight defence.

But the game wasn't going to be won on Kane's foot.

Daniel Sturridge was more dynamic when he replaced his 23-year-old teammate in the 81st minute. Allardyce should use either the Liverpool forward or Leicester City speed demon Jamie Vardy if he wants to find a way past teams like Slovakia that set out with a number of players behind the ball.