England under-21s drop first qualifying points in two years after draw with Bosnia

Gareth Southgate's side fell to a goalless draw with Bosnia

ENGLAND under-21s dropped their first qualifying points in two years as they were held to a goalless draw by Bosnia and Herzeoginva.

 

Gareth Southgate's side remain unbeaten after three games and have seven points as they bid to qualify for Euro 2017.

Jack Stephens was sent off and will miss Monday's visit of Switzerland.

England, playing without Eric Dier and Dele Alli who are now with Roy Hodgson's senior team and in the absence of the injured Jordon Ibe and Tyias Browning, struggled to play their passing game.

In a promising opening period, Lewis Baker threatened with a header at Bosnia goalkeeper Kenan Piric, and the hosts' Haris Hajradinovic went close when England's Jordan Pickford fumbled his shot.

 

Dominic Solanke for England under-21s

Bosnia's Damir Sadikovic similarly sent a powerful effort over the crossbar soon after, before two of Southgate's most experienced players combined to go close again, this time with a header from Nathaniel Chalobah after captain James Ward-Prowse's accurate cross.

In the second half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek disappointing, Armin Cerimagic's influence began to grow and England's ambitions waned.

Ward-Prowse curled wide from 20 yards in the 67th minute, and then Stephens, after a foul on Cerimagic, picked up the second of two yellow cards in quick succession to leave England to play with 10 men, against improving opposition, from the 72nd minute.

Another Cerimagic break, in the 82nd minute, ended with a cross into the area eluding his team-mates as England also became tentative amid the growing pressure.

With the last notable chance of the game, and in a repeat of an earlier move, Ward-Prowse again found Chambers in the area, but again the defender's header missed the target, this time going wide.