England 2-0 Azerbaijan

UEFA European U21 Championship, Qualifying Group 6
7.45pm, 29 March 2005
Middlesbrough FC

Peter Taylor can concentrate on Hull City's League One promotion push, secure in the knowledge that his England Under-21 side are on course to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

After a gruelling schedule of four games in five days for club and country, Taylor finally had a victory to celebrate as England took top spot in Group Six ahead of Germany.

Liverpool midfielder John Welsh marked his first Under-21 start with a fine opening goal in the 27th minute and Norwich City striker Dean Ashton put England firmly in control four minutes before half-time against bottom-of-the-group Azerbaijan, who haven't scored at this level for over three years.

Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium remains a happy hunting ground for the Young Lions, who maintained their 100 per cent record here in their fifth visit.

And England, whodrew 2-2 with Germany at Hull's KC Stadium last Friday, are still unbeaten in the competition, having played a game more than their nearest rivals.

Centre-back Calum Davenport, currently on loan from Tottenham to Southampton, skippered the Under-21s for the first time in the absence of Portsmouth's Gary O'Neil, who had 26 stitches in a wound around the eye sustained against the Germans.

O'Neil's place in midfield went to Welsh, while Fulham's Liam Rosenior made his first start at this level in place of suspended Chelsea right-back Glen Johnson.

With Bolton defender Nicky Hunt ruled out with a dead leg, Newcastle's Steven Taylor lined up alongside Davenport, and Peter Whittingham took over from Aston Villa teammate Liam Ridgewell at left-back.

For all their possession, England made little impression in the early stages and had to wait until the 24th minute for their first genuine attempt on goal, Derby's much-coveted midfielder Tom Huddlestone failing to seriously trouble keeper Ruslan Majidov from 25 yards.

But three minutes later Welsh made the breakthrough, gathering a right-wing ball from Newcastle's James Milner to guide his finish into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Azerbaijan responded with Ramal Huseynov's ambitious, angled effort that Liverpool keeper Scott Carson fielded with a degree of uncertainty.

The influential Kieran Richardson then delivered a measured left-wing ball for Darren Bent, but the Ipswich striker saw his shot blocked by Majidov at point-blank range.

Ashton produced an acrobatic overhead kick that flew narrowly over, before finding his true aim to double the lead. Milner, playing with his head bandaged after having seven stitches inserted in a cut suffered against Germany, was again the provider with the through-ball and Ashton turned to hit a ferocious angled drive into the far corner.

But England were unable to press home their advantage after the break, Majidov making a superb one-handed save from Bent's downward header, and substitute Jon Stead firing against the underside of the bar.

And Majidov pulled off two late saves to foil Newcastle midfielder Darren Ambrose, who had come on for Bent, and then Stead.

England U21 v Azerbaijan, Middlesbrough, 29 March 2005

England: Carson; Rosenior, Taylor, Davenport, Whittingham; Milner, Welsh, Huddlestone, Richardson (Routledge, 56); Bent (Ambrose, 81), Ashton (Stead, 67).

Goals: Welsh 27, Ashton 41

Azerbaijan: Majidov; Rajabov (Abdurahmanov, 90), Amirjanov, Levin (E Abbasov, 77), Namazov, Allahverdiyev; Sadigov, Maharramov, Huseynov, R Abbasov; Aghakishiyev (Mammadov, 64).

Referee: Rene Rogalla (Switzerland)

Attendance: 19,095