Former England defender Martin Keown has singled out Michael Keane, Declan Rice and Harry Maguire for their mistakes in the Three Lions' 5-3 victory over Kosovo on Tuesday night.
Gareth Southgate's men roared back from conceding after only 34 seconds at St Mary's to lead 5-1 at half-time, but a shoddy defensive display after the break saw it end 5-3.
All three of Kosovo's goals came from individual mistakes but a thrilling attacking display from Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane ultimately ensured that England left Southampton with a vital victory.
However Keown was less than impressed with the aforementioned trio, with Keane and Maguire errors bookending a sloppy Rice mistake.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, he said: "There remain serious questions defensively. In the first minute, Michael Keane made a sloppy pass in defence and England were punished.
"Early in the second half, Declan Rice made a sloppy pass in midfield and they were punished.
"Then Harry Maguire made an unnecessary challenge on Vedat Muriqi, gave away a penalty, and they were punished.
"Southgate will want to get rid of this mindset of sloppiness that seems to have crept in."
And West Ham midfielder Rice admitted that the shine was taken off the Euro 2020 qualifying win over Kosovo by their defensive lapses.
After their early slip, the first half was a brilliant display of attacking football but Rice was left thinking of the negatives.
"I thought first half I was really good along with the rest of the team," he said. "In the second half I made a mistake and that has taken the gloss off it for me.
"We are a real threat going forward but we need to keep it tight at the back and stop making mistakes.
"We need to look at the goals we have let in. A mistake from myself, sloppy, I could have done better there and it takes the gloss off it.
"Now I am thinking I am not that happy, I have made a mistake they have scored, (Harry) Maguire's given a penalty away, Keano (Michael Keane) made a mistake.
"But it is part and parcel, we are never going to be perfect. The main thing is we got the three points and we are unbeaten."
