Steve McClaren criticised England's lack of quality after his side were booed off Old Trafford after slumping to the first home defeat of his reign.

He said: "It is disappointing to lose and I can understand the reaction. We don't like losing football matches, especially this one being the last one at Old Trafford. We finished it on a low. It was a hard game and we lost it.

"It is a huge disappointment and we can't get away from that. We didn't hear that (booing) after Holland. But the expectations were there and I can understand their reaction."

McClaren, however, insisted it had been a difficult preparation with key players dropping out with injury.

He said: "We came and had two days which were disrupted with players going. To be honest that is not an excuse, but a reason. We had six or seven players missing who would have been in the starting line-up.

"You are bound to lack cohesion and we did. Nobody is blinded to the fact that we lost the quality in the final third that wins football matches. Playing a good final ball let us down and we lost to a very good goal from Iniesta.

"The attitude and the effort was there. It was the quality in the final third which was missing. We started well and then started giving the ball away and you cannot give the ball away like we did."

The candid verdict of Spain coach Luis Aragones would have given McClaren something to ponder.

He said: "We began nervously but what did surprise me was how we got two against one down England's left hand side. That gave us a few opportunities.

"It is hard to play England. They are a strong team but perhaps Spain are more technical and good on the ball.

"We were thinking quicker as footballers. That was one of the main things between the sides.