Super Steve to the rescue

Steven Gerrard was England’s inspirational hero in wind-swept Barcelona as he scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Andorra.

The Three Lions were under massive pressure to win three points in their Group E fixture after being held to a goalless draw in Israel at the weekend.

And, in rainy, cold and windy conditions they got back to winning ways and kept alive our hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals, with new boy David Nugent adding a late third on his debut.

It was a massive moment for the Preston man. But you have to say Gerrard deserves the biggest headlines.

With Frank Lampard missing because of an injured wrist, the Liverpool star played in his favoured central midfield role alongside Owen Hargreaves and he revelled in it.

He was outstanding from start to finish, even if things didn’t always go England’s way on a difficult but ultimately successful night.

The Three Lions were restricted to few chances in the first half as a robust Andorra side defended as if their lives depended on it.

Gerrard came closest when he thumped in a long-range shot that skidded off the turf and almost caught the home keeper out. But Koldo just managed to stick a hand out at the last minute.

Andy Johnson also went close when his sharp turn and shot was well saved after 39 minutes but there was no keeping Gerrard down.

Easily the game’s most dynamic player, he provided the all important breakthrough when he latched onto Rooney lay-off after 54 minutes, got his body over the ball and buried a volley into the corner of the net.

It was just what England needed and the same player wrapped things up after 76 minutes when he swapped passes with substitute Jermain Defoe and superbly steered the ball home from the left-hand side of the area.

It could have been more as sub Nugent went close late on and lively Kieron Dyer caused all kinds of problems.

And England did grab a third just before the end when Defoe's shot squirmed under the keeper's arm and Nugent raced in to force it over the line.

At that point the whole of England could finally relax. With Group E rivals Israel beating Estonia 4-0 tonight the most important thing for the Three Lions was to win. They have - and now they can set their sights on Estonia in June.

England: 1 Paul Robinson, 2 Micah Richards, 3 Ashley Cole, 4 Steven Gerrard, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 John Terry (c), 7 Owen Hargreaves, 8 Stewart Downing, 9 Wayne Rooney, 10 Andrew Johnson, 11 Aaron Lennon

Substitutes: 12 Jamie Carragher, 13 Ben Foster, 14 Gareth Barry, 15 Kieron Dyer, 16 Michael Carrick, 17 David Nugent, 18 Jermain Defoe

Andorra: 1 Koldo, 5 Lima, 2 Ayala, 4 Sonejee, 6 Escura, 8 Garcia, 7 Vieira, 11 Ruiz, 17 Jimenez, 3 Bernaus, 9 Toscano,

Match Officials:

Referee: Bruno Paixao (Portugal)
Assistant Referees: Jose Cardinal and Alfredo Braga (Portugal)
Fourth Official: Joao Ferreira (Portugal)

Kit Colours:

Andorra: Blue shirts, blue shorts, blue socks
Goalkeeper: All black

England: White shirts, blue shorts and white socks
Goalkeeper: Yellow