'Lessons to be learned'

It was another three points for England’s Under-21s against Bulgaria to push them further clear at the top of Group 3, but Coach Stuart Pearce issued a warning to his players ahead of their trip to Portugal on Tuesday.

Goals at the end of either half from Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner in a chilly Milton Keynes on Friday earned his side a 2-0 win, but Pearce says lessons must be learned after a first half display that almost saw England’s defence breached for the first time this campaign.

He said: “We're very disappointed in the first half and it would be stupid to say anything else. They wanted one of their team-mates do to their hard work for them but football doesn't work that way.

“We conceded too much possession, gave it away too cheaply and credit to Bulgaria, they were very unfortunate not to score one one, two or even three goals before half-time.

“But we've got enough cutting edge about us to get a goal, even against the run of play, which we did. We came in at half-time and changed the formation and in the second half we looked much more solid with the extra man in midfield.

"We kept possession better and you know with the Walcotts, Agbonlahors and Milners that you've got an opportunity to hit the oppostion."

He continued: "From the players' point of view, they are keen to take on the challenge. They knew at half-time that it wasn't good enough and they did something about it.

"There are a lot of good things to take from it, but also lessons to be learned that we'll feed back to them over the next few days." 

The victory, which means another three points in Portugal will all but secure qualification to the Euro 2009 play-offs, was sealed in the closing ten minutes after great work from Man-of-the-Match Theo Walcott earned England a penalty.

His neat link-up play with James Milner, that had already opened up the Bulgarian defence earlier in the half, saw Walcott bear down on keeper Nikolay Mihaylov only to be up-ended by the out-on-loan Liverpool stopper.

Walcott wanted to take it as reward for a dazzling display of pace and skill throughout the night, but gave way for nominated taker Milner, who slotted home with interest.

Pearce continued: “Milly was selected to take penalties but credit to Theo. The way he was playing tonight I'm not surprised he wanted to put himself up to take it.

“Consistently over the 90 minutes he got me on my feet and excited me. His appetite to play the game was there and he was a thorn in their side the whole game.

“A year he ago he was a bit of an introvert and wouldn't want to put himself up for that but now all of a sudden he feels a big part of this team and wants to be a part of it.

“But I'm pleased that Theo was desperate to get a goal for the team and it shows that he's coming out of himself.”

Teams

England
1 Joe Hart, 2 Craig Gardner, 3 Joe Mattock, 4 Lee Cattermole, 5 Steven Taylor (c), 6 David Wheater, 7 James Milner, 8 Tom Huddlestone (17 Adam Johnson, 85), 9 Matt Derbyshire (15 Fabrice Muamba, 46), 10 Gabriel Agbonlahor (14 Grant Leadbitter, 79) 11 Theo Walcott.
Subs not used 12 Richard Stearman, 13 Ben Alnwick, 16 Andrew Surman, 18 Ishmael Miller.

Bookings David Wheater

Bulgaria
1 Nikolay Mihailov (c), 6 Ivan Bandalovski, 13 Atanas Fidanin, 4 Ivan Ivanov, 3 Nikolay Bodurov, 16 Lubomir Bozhinov, 10 Nikolay Petrov (7 Lachezar Baltanov, 86), 18 Vladimir Gadzhev, 19 Nikolay Dimitrov, 15 Dani Kiki (11 Vladislav Mirchev, 76), 17 Valeri Domovchiyski (9 Atanas Kurdov, 89).
Subs Not Used 12 Ilia Nikolov, 5 Velichko Velichkov, 8 Orlin Starokin, 14 Martin Kavdanski.

Bookings Atanas Fidanin, 56; Lubomir Bozhinov, 62

Nationwide Man of the Match Theo Walcott

Officials (all from Belgium)
Referee Luc Wouters
Assistants Mark Simons and Vincent Despiegleer
Fourth Official Philippe Flament

Attendance 20, 222