Bulgaria 0-2 England

2009 UEFA European Championship Group 3 Qualifier 
Tuesday 11 September 2007
Bulgarska Armia Stadium, Sofia

England beat both Bulgaria and the driving rain on Tuesday night to complete a perfect trip to Eastern Europe.

Just four days after putting three past Montenegro, the Young Lions eased past Bulgaria courtesy of goals from Tom Huddlestone and Mark Noble.

In torrential rain Head Coach Stuart Pearce made one change from the side that was victorious on Friday, bringing in Spurs' Huddlestone for Aston Villa's Craig Gardner.

It proved to be an inspired move as the imposing midfielder put England ahead on 25 minutes.

James Milner broke on the right and played the ball to Noble who found Huddlestone on the edge of the box who unleashed a ferocious drive which skidded across the wet surface and beat goalkeeper Mihaylov.

Provider turned goalscorer seven minutes later.

Milner was again involved, feeding Matt Derbyshire on the edge of box who played the ball into Noble breaking from midfield. The West Ham man showed great composure to round the keeper and put the ball into the empty net.

Bulgaria had chances to reduce the deficit, their best falling to Domovchiyski who narrowly missed Joe Hart's goal on two occasions. Derbyshire also had a header well saved at the other end.

The players were greeted by more rain and stormy winds as they continued after the break.

But England continued to force the issue, despite the weather, and were unfortunate not to go further ahead.

First Milner threaded a ball through to Gabriel Agbonlahor who couldn't beat the onrushing Mihaylov, then Derbyshire saw a chipped effort narrowly clear the crossbar.

Huddlestone was inches away from scoring his second 12 minutes from time after a lovely move involving Noble and Milner.

Substitute Luke Moore was denied a late goal by Mihaylov following impressive work by fellow replacement Michael Kightly.

But the points belonged to England.

Bulgaria
1 Nikolay Mihaylov (c), 3 Pavel Kovachev, 4 Ivan Ivanov, 6 Ivan Bandalovski, 7 Orlin Orlinov (15 Andrei Stoev, 53), 9 Atanas Kyrdov (11 Vladislav Mirchev, 61), 13 Atanas Fidanin, 14 Milen Laxchev (10 Nikolay Dulgerov, 71), 16 Lubomir Bozhinov, 17 Valeri Domovchiyski, 19 Nikolay Dimitrov

Subs not used 12 Iliya Nikolov, 5 Vilichko Velichkov, 8 Orlin Starokin, 20 Aleksander Aleksandrov

Booked Laxchev 21, Bozhinov 74

England
1 Joe Hart, 2 Martin Cranie, 3 Andrew Taylor, 4 Mark Noble, 5 Steven Taylor (c), 6 Nedum Onouha, 7 James Milner, 8 Tom Huddlestone, 9 Matt Derbyshire (17 Luke Moore, 81), 10 Gabriel Agbonlahor (16 Michael Kightly, 70), 11 Theo Walcott (15 Fabrice Muamba, 55)
Subs not used: 12 David Wheater, 13 Ben Alnwick, 14 Craig Gardner, 18 Dexter Blackstock

Goals: Tom Huddlestone 25, Mark Noble 32

Booked Noble 48