Stuart Pearce admitted his experimental England Under-21 side "didn't do enough to win the game" following their goalless draw with Poland.A sell-out crowd at Molineux were left with little to cheer as Pearce handed his fringe players a chance to stake their claims ahead of September's European Championship qualifier against Portugal, and what seems a certain play-off for next summer's finals in Sweden.

The coach handed debuts to Daniel Fox, Ryan Shawcross and Jamie O'Hara, while Tom Heaton, Fraizer Campbell and Scott Dann all came off the bench to earn their first caps.

With so many new faces it was perhaps no surprise England lacked cohesion at times, but the experience of international competition is sure to provide a valuable learning curve for his young team.

Chances were at a premium in what was a largely forgettable friendly but Cameron Jerome, Luke Moore and Campbell all spurned rare opportunities to make their mark.

Szymon Pawlowski could even have stolen it for Poland with five minutes remaining when his low shot crept past the right post.

"We didn't do enough to win the game," conceded Pearce. "If I'm being honest probably a draw was a fair result.

"We are difficult to beat but I think at times we were opened up a little bit in the middle of the park which is unlike us, but when they had to the goalkeepers helped us out.

"By the time we have a look at it again we will know a bit more about one or two individuals."

Pearce insisted the friendly was nonetheless a "worthwhile exercise", with the principal purpose to give experience to players previously on the periphery of his squad.

He added: "I think it was a difficult game for us, not the easiest of games. We certainly didn't take an opposition that would have been comfortable for us.

"We would have liked to have won the game. I have learnt enough from the performance to make it a worthwhile exercise, that's for sure.

"There were a lot of players out there making their debuts. We have had them together one day on the training pitch and I think at times that showed."

The performances of substitute Campbell, who has starred in Hull's late promotion push this season, and man of the match Adam Johnson were among those highlighted by Pearce, who will now head to Paris to join up with Fabio Capello and the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against France.

"Fraizer Campbell when he came on excited me a little bit," he added.

"The two boys up front that started, Luke and Cameron, started to play when they got the ball down and Johnno we know can go past people.

"I think there were a lot of positives there. Obviously one or two people were going to be a little bit nervous.

"It's their first cap and in one or two cases their first squad let alone their first cap.

"I think Fox played better as the game went on and all round I was quite pleased."

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