McClaren has been under siege from the media all week and was then forced to sit through sustained calls for his head throughout the game as England eventually recorded a 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Andorra in Barcelona.

Clearly irked at the treatment he has been receiving, McClaren civilly answered just two questions before his voice began to crack and he got to his feet declaring: "Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you."

It is the type of tactic McClaren's old mentor Sir Alex Ferguson is noted for and it appears the former Manchester United assistant is also calling on the same 'them and us' mentality which has been such a feature of his former boss' illustrious career.

"I said at half-time, this is when we have to stick together, this is when we have to step forward and show real guts and character," he said.

"The players did that. I am proud of them. Probably a few of them have grown up tonight.

"Nothing concerns me about what people write or say. What matters is what is on the inside.

"I have had fantastic support this week from the players and the staff; from everyone within the squad and also outside it. There is a great determination to prove people wrong."

Although the eventual margin of victory, achieved thanks to a Steven Gerrard double and a late tap-in from debutant David Nugent, was acceptable in terms of pre-match expectation, it was the reaction of the England fans which really grabbed the attention.

The vast majority of the thousands of supporters who had flown in for the game joined in anti-McClaren chants.

At more than one stage of a goalless first-half they sang ''You're getting sacked in the morning' and even at the end as they celebrated victory, they chorused: "Still want McClaren sacked."

FA chief executive Brian Barwick, who appointed McClaren and would have the job of firing him if that course of action was taken, left the Olympic Stadium without a word.

McClaren has no intention of walking away from the job, clearly believing he can take England into next summer's European Championships.

Bizarrely, they have slipped a place in Group E even though they are now level on points with both Russia and Israel and two behind group leaders Croatia, who have played one game less.

"We came here to win the game," he said.

"It was important to do that. In difficult conditions, both on and off the field, the players came through.

"I told them they had to show real guts and character to come through this. They did that. Each and every one of them.

"We have won the game and we move on. That puts us in a better position in the group. We have to make sure we beat Estonia in June. Then we are on the run-in. It is down to us. It is still in our hands."

Although the desire within the FA remains for McClaren to continue, Soho Square chiefs are facing the unpalatable prospect opening the 'new' Wembley on May 31 to a crescendo of jeers and catcalls.

In a further piece of bad news for McClaren, Wayne Rooney will now be suspended for the June 6 encounter with Estonia in Tallinn after picking up another booking to add to the one he collected in Israel at the weekend.