England4
Montenegro1
England last night won 4-1 against Montenegro in their World Cup Group H qualifier at Wembley.
Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, 22, started promisingly on his England debut, cutting in from the right flank to play in Danny Welbeck but his cross was cut out.
Wayne Rooney also looked lively, crashing a deflected shot just a foot wide of Vukasin Poleksic’s goal.
The away side spent the first 15 minutes camped in their own half as England dominated.
Townsend continued to be a threat down the right. Stevan Jovetic had to resort to a cynical body check to bring the winger down after he beat two players but the hosts wasted the free kick.
Dejan Damjanovic had the ball in the England net after a rare away attack, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Joe Hart then denied Damjanovic a goal moments later when he swept the ball clear after the forward broke the offside trap.
Gerrard tried his luck from distance but Poleksic tipped the ball around the post.
Then, with five minutes of the half left, England had their best chance.
Poleksic spilled a low drive from Townsend straight in to the path of Rooney, but the Manchester United forward ploughed his shot into the side-netting.
With Ukraine’s victory over Poland confirmed at half-time England knew they had to win to remain top of Group H. Hodgson was clearly worried about his team’s plight. Those nerves soon disappeared, though, as Rooney put England ahead.
The Manchester United forward had Townsend to thank for making the goal.
The young winger picked the ball up five yards inside his half and galloped 50 yards down the right flank before he sent a deflected cross into Welbeck’s path. Poleksic saved his shot, but the rebound fell to Rooney and he readjusted his body to stab home under the Montenegro goalkeeper.
England soon doubled their lead. A clever backheel from Sturridge set Welbeck free down the left and he pulled the ball back.
The pass was intended for Rooney, but Branko Boskovic did the honours instead, stabbing a perfectly placed shot past his own goalkeeper.
Jovetic reminded England they were not out of the woods yet by dispatching a superb 25-yard shot that beat Hart but came back off the crossbar.
Gerrard had a great chance to make it 3-0 but he miscued a shot .
Dejan Damjanovic had English hearts fluttering in the 72nd minute with his goal but a late clincher from Townsend and a 90th minute penalty from Daniel Sturridge ensured the win for Hodgson’s men.