Fabio Capello believes England are already 45 minutes into another unbeaten run.

As someone who so often talks about the by-products of the game, rather than pure ability, positive thinking plays a big part in Capello's management style.

And the Italian feels he is setting an example that needs to be followed by ignoring the loss of a 100% World Cup qualifying record by going down 1-0 to the Ukraine last night.

Instead, he wants to concentrate on the plus side, which ostensibly means having marginally the better of a goalless second half against a team desperate for victory, despite having only 10 men.

"Absolutely not," said Capello when asked whether the loss was a setback to his plans for next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

"I prefer to win but every game is one step forward and sometimes you have to understand what it is like to have 10 against 11.

"That was important. And now we can start from the second half."

They will continue on Wednesday in the concluding game of their World Cup qualifying campaign minus Wayne Rooney, who has returned to Manchester United with a calf injury.

As Rooney was, by some distance, England's best player at the Dnipro Arena, it is a blow for the fans who make their way to Wembley.

However, in keeping with his general philosophy, Capello will view it merely as an obstacle to overcome, a scenario which, like playing all but 15 minutes of last night's contest a man down, could easily be repeated in South Africa next year.

Steven Gerrard has been cleared to remain despite being substituted at half-time with a groin problem, so he could be pushed up alongside Emile Heskey.

Depending on Capello's willingness to experiment though, either Carlton Cole or, most intriguingly given Jermain Defoe's absence, Gabriel Agbonlahor, could be asked to do the job.

Making the opposite journey to Rooney will be Ben Foster, who could no doubt empathise with the criticism being heaped on Rio Ferdinand following his latest high-profile blunder.

Ferdinand has been exposed for club and country far too often this season for a player of such stature.

Again last night, he was found wanting as he allowed Artem Milevskiy to charge straight through the visitors' defence, leaving Green with little alternative other than to make the fateful challenge.

The crass error is added to a list that started during August's friendly with Holland and continued last month when he was burned off by Craig Bellamy for City's third equaliser in that pulsating Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Capello claimed on Friday there are no "key" players in his squad. Maybe not. But there are some pretty significant ones and the England coach is surely more fearful that his post-match statements would suggest.

"No," said Capello unequivocally when asked whether he was concerned about the defender.

"He made one mistake during the game. It was a long ball that bounced and he didn't judge the direction well.

"But after that he played a good game.

"At this moment he is making some mistakes but you cannot question Rio's value."

To a slightly lesser degree, the same sentiments could be expressed about Ashley Cole, whose bid to atone for his own error gave the hosts their winner when he guided Serhiy Nazarenko's shot past David James.

Glen Johnson produced a performance in keeping with his reputation. Excellent going forward, ill at ease going backwards. Skipper John Terry won praise in some quarters, and he was best of the quartet. But the Chelsea skipper did not have to be very good to claim that accolade and he can do better.

Further forward, another fine battling display from Frank Lampard has to be balanced against Michael Carrick's inability to impose himself on the contest was a worrying reminder of a similar failure by the Manchester United man in last season's Champions League final.

After what he has achieved in the last 18 months, Capello has earned a large degree of latitude, even if it is difficult to entirely endorse his views.

"I am very happy. All the players did well," he said.

"John Terry is a leader and Wayne Rooney is incredible. He can play forward, left, right and he defends.

"The game wasn't important for qualification but we still produced the spirit that I like.

"You have to play every game to win. Win, win, win. It is very important and that is what I saw."