Downing at the double

Stewart Downing put his name in lights after his wonderful brace finally saw off Albania's plucky challenge.

The Middlesbrough winger, who came on after just ten minutes following an injury to Aaron Lennon, notched either side of half-time as England ran out comfortable winners.

His double will have done his chances of being involved against Brazil and Estonia no harm, and the same can be said of Alan Smith who opened the scoring.

Steve McClaren spoke before the game about a wonderful opportunity for the new faces in the squad and two of them - David Bentley and Nicky Shorey - certainly paid close attention to the Head Coach's words.

The Blackburn Rovers winger made his mark with an early crunching challenge while on the other flank, Shorey was a useful attacking outlet who charged down the wing freely.

In front of him, Lennon looked in the right mood and the capacity crowd at Turf Moor sensed the Spurs midfielder was on-form.

He was involved in England's first chance on seven minutes when, after receiving the ball from Shorey, he crossed low to Michael Owen. However, the expert finisher could not mark his return to the international scene with a goal, pushing a right foot shot past the far post.

Unfortunately it would be Lennon's last involvement and he was substituted for Downing.

But the vocal crowd were not without other livewires and in Besart Berisha, Albania have an exciting player who loves running at players.

He was just the width of the woodwork away from putting his side into the lead on 20 minutes. Having cut inside from the left and hopped past two challenges, he unleashed a left foot shot from 25 yards which arched past Scott Carson but cannoned back off the crossbar.

England responded with a chance at the other end, although it would have been an unlikely scorer. The ultra-reliable Ledley King is renowned for his defensive duties, but on 22 minutes he galloped forward after winning possession before firing weakly at Arjan Beqaj.

The Albanian stopper, who plays for Anorthosis Famagusta, had to be alert moments later when he tipped Downing's free-kick wide, although only the Middlesbrough winger will know if he meant to shoot.

Carson was called into action as play switched to the other end. England were outnumbered at the back which allowed Devi Mukaj to slide the ball through to Alban Bushi. With just Carson to beat, Albania's highest ever scorer unwisely aimed at the near post where the England keeper thrust out a boot to save.

Smith showed his opposite number how to finish on 34 minutes. The impressive Shorey crossed to Gareth Barry who laid the ball back invitingly to Smith who needed no second invitation, blasting the ball low to put England ahead.

The lead was doubled three minutes later courtesy of Downing. The increasingly influential Bentley crossed only for Beqaj to palm straight into Downing's path. Like his team-mate before, the finish was emphatic from 12 yards.

But any lingering hopes of an easy night were dashed a minute from half-time, and in some style too. Berisha, one of the players of the half, darted in from the left before unleashing a stunning shot into the top corner.

If Albania's goal was individual brilliance, then England's third was a wonderfully crafted team effort on 58 minutes. Bentley, the stand-out player since the interval, deftly backheeled the ball to Jermaine Jenas who passed inside to Owen.

With space to turn, the Newcastle striker played the ball to the lurking Downing who delightfully dinked the ball over the sprawling Beqaj.

With their two-goal cushion restored, England began to play their best football, stroking the ball across the park.

McClaren rung the changes, sending on Steven Taylor, Joleon Lescott, Kieron Dyer and Jermain Defoe.

But it was one of the old guard who looked intent on grabbing the headlines. Seemingly hell-bent on netting, Owen almost got his wish as the game reached its dying embers but he sent Downing's low cross high into the David Fishwick Stand.

Still, Owen looked lively and the 90 minutes will do his match fitness wonders with Brazil and Estonia on the horizon.