England Under-21s manager Gareth Southgate has hailed his side's performance against San Marino in their 2015 European Championship qualifier on Tuesday.

The Young Lions got the better of their opponents 9-0, thanks to a brace each from Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings.

"I was particularly pleased with the attitude and the hunger to the end to do the right thing and to keep wanting to go forward," Sky Sports News quotes Southgate as saying.

"It would have been easy for us to get sloppy and start the game in a sloppy way. I picked a team which I thought would move the ball in the way they did. The response tonight was excellent.

"It has been a really encouraging three months to see the quality we've got in depth and to see that it can be enjoyable to play in an England shirt. They played with freedom, they are playing with a smile on their faces."

England are currently three points clear of Moldova at the top of Group One.