Wales boss Gary Speed has praised his team’s efforts in last night’s Euro 2012 qualifier with England at Wembley, which resulted in a 1-0 victory for the home team.

The young Welsh side went behind in the first half, but held England at one goal and came close to equalising in the second.

"I'm very, very proud of the players," Speed said after the match. "The way we passed the ball in the second half, how comfortable we were on the ball and the way we took the game to England and the chances we created - I thought we were the better team in the second half.

"So from that I take a great deal of positivity and I'm very, very proud."

Speed, who has not won a game since taking the reins of his national team, also rued a close-range miss from Robert Earnshaw in the 76th minute which would have levelled the score.

"It was unfortunate," Speed said. "The pressure we were putting on England meant we were going to get a chance and if you could have it fall to anyone it would have been Earnie."

Wales remain at the bottom of Group G with three points.