A HEROIC defensive display from Wales kept them top of their World Cup qualifying group as they frustrated Phil Neville's England to earn a goalless draw in Southampton.

The Lionesses - ranked number two in the world - failed to find a way past Wales' goalkeeper and player of the match Laura O'Sullivan, labouring to a 0-0 draw in new boss Neville's first home game at the helm.

England dominated territory and possession from first to last, but still failed to conjure any genuine clear-cut goal-scoring chances.

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Neville said on BBC Two: "I didn't think we played well in the first half. We were too rushed in everything we did, we didn't show any patience.

"The second half was a lot better, we kept them hemmed in and we just didn't put the chances away.

"We didn't create many chances but the dominance we showed in the second half was better. The first half I thought was a disappointing performance."

He added: "You've got to give full credit to Wales. Tactically they sat deep, they defended all the spaces and they nullified any little threats we had, and a draw was probably what they came for and what they got."

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Delighted Wales captain Sophie Ingle said: "It was massive. We put a shift in. England worked us hard. They are the second best in the world, we weren't going to have much of the ball.

"It just shows where we've come and how we've developed. Laura O'Sullivan is my best mate, she's kept us in the game."