McClaren, who saw a Peter Crouch goal seal a 1-0 Group E win against the same opponents in Skopje last month, had recorded three wins from his opening three games after succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson as head coach during the summer.

But despite a Steven Gerrard effort that hit the crossbar five minutes from time, England simply could not find the breakthrough against an impressive Macedonia team.

"I am disappointed and frustrated, and so are the players in the changing room," said McClaren.

"Looking at the performance it has got to be better."

Liverpool midfielder Gerrard will miss Wednesday's tricky trip to Croatia after picking up a first-half booking -- his second of the campaign.

He said: "It's a big blow for us to lose Stevie. With Steven missing, we are now going to have look at the situation and reflect on what we are going to do tactically."

Macedonia coach Srecko Katanec admitted that he expected more from McClaren's team.

He said: "I expected England to play a more aggressive game and put us under more pressure.

"But I am very satisfied with the performance of my players because they played well tactically and earned a very good point."

McClaren was dealt a blow before the game had even started with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand ruled out due to a back strain suffered in training 24 hours earlier.

Ferdinand's injury opened the door for Spurs captain Ledley King to partner John Terry at the heart of the England defence, but the pair were forced to endure a nervous first-half as Macedonia created the better opportunities and appeared to be a more potent attacking force than the home side.

The absence of broken leg victim Owen Hargreaves, a key figure in the midfield holding role for England in recent months, was perhaps another reason for Macedonia's free-flowing first-half football.

There was simply nobody to plug the gaps for England and break up the play and an uncharacteristic mistake by Gerrard led to a dangerous opportunity for Katanec's team in the 11th minute. Gerrard lost the ball 40 yards from his own goal and it was picked up by striker Goran Pandev. The Lazio player then burst into the England penalty area before firing a left-foot strike into the side-netting from ten yards.

Having been written off as no-hopers before the game, the near miss was a warning of Macedonia's threat, but England laboured as they attempted to respond.

Wayne Rooney and Crouch struggled to carve out chances and Frank Lampard and Gerrard were frustrated by resolute Macedonian defending.

Macedonia continued to carry the most threat and full-back Robert Petrov aimed a left-foot volley wide from 12 yards on 37 minutes. Considering that he was unmarked, it was a wasted chance by the CSKA Sofia defender.

England could only improve in the second-half and when Lampard forced keeper Jane Nikolovski into a crucial save on 48 minutes, it seemed McClaren had injected purpose and direction into his team during the half-time break.

But Macedonia fought fire with fire and they had two great chances in the space of a minute when Goce Sedloski headed over from six yards before substitute Aco Stojkov brought a fine save from Paul Robinson after out-pacing King in the penalty area.Winger Stewart Downing was one of England's few successes and his curling cross from the left teed up Crouch for a diving header, brilliantly saved by Nikolovski on 58 minutes.

Despite the importance of Nikolovski, Macedonia were by no means forced to withstand heavy England pressure.

The home side did increase the pressure in the closing stages, but they never really threatened denying Macedonia the point their performance deserved.

And when McClaren substituted the ineffective Rooney with 16 minutes still to play, it summed up England's lack of ideas and over-reliance on a young player who is struggling to emerge from the first real form slump of his career.