CLEMENCE PLEADS FOR PATIENCE

Clemence - message for fans.

England coach Ray Clemence has pleaded with the fans to be patient when Kazakhstan come to Wembley on Saturday.

Expectations are high after the 4-1 win over Croatia in Zagreb in the previous World Cup qualifier, which followed a more routine dismissal of Group Six no-hopers Andorra.

Saturday's clash will be manager Fabio Capello's first competitive match at the new Wembley and Kazakhstan are likely to try to stifle the hosts.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham goalkeeper Clemence, who won 61 caps between 1972 and 1983, admitted the players often struggled to please during home matches.

He said: "We have had a great result in Croatia but Kazakhstan will certainly come and set themselves up very defensively and it might take a bit of time to break them down.

"Confidence has been fragile at times at Wembley so we need the fans to give us that patience and then I'm sure the lads will give us the result the fans want."

Clemence's number one concern is to prepare the three goalkeepers in the squad, with first-choice David James and understudy Robert Green both having made costly errors in club matches recently.

James was at fault when Portsmouth suffered heavy defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea last month while West Ham's Green gifted Bolton two goals at the weekend.

But Clemence insisted James' true form had shown itself in the UEFA Cup when Pompey were under pressure in Portugal from Guimaraes.

"David James hasn't let England down. He would be the first to admit that a couple of weeks ago one or two went in that he wasn't happy with," he added.

"But his second-half performance in Portugal was good. He made one exceptional save in extra time just before they went down the other end and scored a goal.

"He has quality and experience and it's the same with Robert. He has been playing really well all year.

"Yes, he made a couple of errors but he is an honest goalkeeper and will hold his hand up and say it was his fault.

"He is a strong character, as all goalkeepers have to be, and I'm sure he will show that from the first training session."

Clemence was speaking at a sponsoredbyyou.com event organised by England team sponsors Nationwide Building Society.