England Under-21s missed the chance to move six points clear in the race for automatic qualification into Euro 2017 after being held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland Under-21s in Thun.

It was a tepid opening by both sides at the Stockhorn Arena, but the visitors almost went ahead after 16 minutes when John Swift poked just wide from Matt Targett's cross.

Another chance then went begging, as the lively Demarai Gray skipped by his marker before standing a cross up for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but the Chelsea man failed to get clean contact with his header.

There was some sign of life from the hosts just after the half-hour mark when Florian Kamberi headed over the bar, but the Swiss took heart from the miss.

Buoyed by the opportunity, Switzerland grew in confidence, and Denis Zakaria saw his piledriver ping the crossbar from 30 yards toward the end of a half which grew more entertaining as it aged.

Leicester City winger Gray almost fired the Young Lions into a somewhat fortunate lead just before the break, but Yvon Mvogo denied him with a smart save.

Despite several warnings, Swiss boss Pierluigi Tami did little to combat the threat of Gray during the half-time break, and the Foxes man made them pay.

The 19-year-old danced his way into the penalty area, before setting up Arsenal's Chuba Akpom who finished well past Mvogo within two minutes of the restart.

It took the wind out of the Swiss as the contest decreased in intensity somewhat, but England were then denied a second on 71 minutes when James Ward-Prowse's free kick cannoned off the crossbar.

With 14 minutes to go, the hosts drew level as Kamberi slotted past Jordan Pickford - moments after Akpom had a shot cleared off the line - as Southgate's men were denied.

Their night got worse in the closing seconds when Liverpool's Jordon Ibe picked up a second yellow card, but England stay top of Group 9, four points clear of Norway after playing one game more.