With Sven bringing on ten substitutes, The Walkers Stadium saw twenty one Englan
With Sven bringing on ten substitutes, The Walkers Stadium saw twenty one England players take to the pitch. TheFA.com takes a look at how they all performed...
1. David James
Will feel disappointed at conceeding a goal just before half time but he shouldn't - there was very little he could do about Jestrovic's header. Otherwise, the West Ham man will be happy just to have played a full 90 minutes to further strengthen his position as England's no.1.
2. Danny Mills
The Leeds man filled in again for the absent Gary Neville and put in a performance of diligence.
Tried to get forward at every opportunity, but with no Beckham and England playing with a narrow midfield, there were fewer chances for him to show his attacking side.
3. Ashley Cole
Ashley's welcome return to the side saw the Arsenal star have a comfortable match in the left-back role. Defended when required to do so, he was unlucky not to keep Jestrovic's header out though could not have been expected to make a goal-line clearance from such a close-range effort.
Came forward all the time and worked well with Lampard and Gerrard. Substituted at half-time for Southampton's Wayne Bridge.
5. Matthew Upson
After a confidence-building performance the other week down in Durban against South Africa, Matthew made his full debut against Serbia & Montenegro.
Once again he played alongside Gareth Southgate and the pair looked comfortable in each other's company, forming a solid partnership.
6. Gareth Southgate
A rock in the heart of England's defence, Gareth was almost a father figure to Matthew Upson and the two of them played well in the centre.
Possibly could have been at fault for letting Jestrovic have a free header from which Serbia and Montenegro scored but generally had a solid game.
Was substituted at half-time for John Terry.
4. Steven Gerrard
England's lucky charm - the Three Lions are still unbeaten in matches in which Steve has played - was England's best player in the first half. Constantly moving around a fluid midfield, he delivered good crosses, spread the ball across the pitch and weighed in with his third goal for England.
He started and finished a great move, playing a one-two with Lampard before flicking the ball out to Owen whose cross from the right found Gerrard 12 yards out.
As one of Sven's prized assets, he came off at the interval for Jermaine Jenas.
7. Frank Lampard
One valuable asset that Chelsea's Frank Lampard has to his name is that he rarely gives away the ball - crucial in international football where possession is king.
Played a great one-two with Steven Gerrard which allowed the Liverpool man to run forward and score and generally spread the play well.
8. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes has now gone two years without scoring for England, having previously been prolific. The United man had a quiet game and was taken off at half-time to rest him ahead of next week's crunch qualifier against Slovakia.
11. Philip Neville
Manchester United's utility man played on the left of defence against South Africa but against the Serbs, the 25 year-old moved into the anchor role deep in midfield.
Like in the Durban match, Neville was solid and didn't make any mistakes and eventually he was rewarded with the capataincy when Heskey went off.
9. Emile Heskey
A proud night for Emile Heskey saw the Leicester-born striker captain England - if only for 17 minutes - in front of his father and son.
The big man rose well after just five minutes to reach a deep Steven Gerrard cross from the right, but rather than directing his header at goal, he tried to put Michael Owen in.
10. Michael Owen
Played just the first half as he was rested for the game at Middlesbrough next week and didn't really have too many opportunities to show his immense talent. Latched onto a Heskey knockdown after just five minutes, but the ball just wouldn't sit down for him.
Supplied the perfect cross for Gerrard to score from after his Liverpool team-mate had played the ball out to him on the right.
Subs
John Terry (for Southgate, 45)
Debut. Did well at the heart of England's defence and looked as though he had played international football for years. No mistakes and will have impressed Sven.
Wayne Bridge (for A Cole, 45)
Southampton's defensive star came on for Cole in a like-for-like switch at half-time and did well. Came forward as much as he could.
Jermaine Jenas (for Gerrard, 45)
In both this game and the Durban match, young Jermaine couldn't quite match the performance that he put on at Upton park against Australia. Nevertheless, did alright and further cemented his place in the squad.
Owen Hargreaves (for Scholes, 45)
Linked well and could have scored with a free shot from the edge of the penalty area after Jenas had played him in. Exchanged good passes with Vassell and Joe Cole.
Wayne Rooney (for Owen, 45)
Another good display. Only had one shot on goal of note - a wonderfully curling effort from well outside the area which Zilic did well to parry for a corner.
Jamie Carragher (for Danny Mills, 61)
Played solidly at right-back. Actually captained the side for the last five minutes. Supplied good crosses deep from the right.
Joe Cole (for Lampard, 61)
Given half an hour to impress, he did. At the heart of a display full of skill and trickery was of course his goal eight minutes from time. A free kick 25 yards out was in Beckham country but with him, Gerrard and Scholes all absent, the West Ham prodigy calmly ran up to the ball and hit a perfect drive into the far right corner.
Darius Vassell (for Heskey, 61)
A busy performance from the Villa man. Constantly looked to run at the Serbian defence.
Gareth Barry (for Upson, 85)
Not really given enough time to make an impression, although he nearly scored from a corner late in the match - Zilic just got a hand to his goal-bound strike.
James Beattie (for Neville 88)
Coming on for just the last couple of minutes, James didn't have enough time to impose himself on the match.
by James Wright
England 2 Serbia and Montenegro 1: Match Centre