England vs Scotland. FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group F.
Wembley Stadium.
Saturday 12 November 2016 09:31, UK
Three headers gave England a 3-0 win over rivals Scotland at Wembley in their World Cup Group F Qualifier on Friday night.
England, who scored from all three of their shots on target, took the lead through Daniel Sturridge midway through an even first half, directing a header past Craig Gordon after Kyle Walker's measured cross from the right.
Scotland wasted two fine chances after the break, before man-of-the-match Adam Lallana made it 2-0 with a fine header into the corner from Danny Rose's delivery.
England made it three on the hour mark with another header, Gary Cahill this time glancing past Gordon from Wayne Rooney's corner
The result means England sit top of Group F with 10 points from a possible 12, while Scotland go down to fifth on four points, with four points separating them and second place.
Gareth Southgate opted not to start Tottenham striker Harry Kane despite his recent return from injury for his club, while under-pressure Gordon Strachan re-introduced Leigh Griffiths and Scott Brown.
Scotland's pressing took England by surprise early on as Southgate's side failed to get a real foothold in the game for the opening 15 minutes, and they saw a penalty shout rightly turned down by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir after Lee Wallace collided with Raheem Sterling.
But England eventually settled, and took the lead on 24 minutes through Sturridge's eighth international goal.
After Sterling's effort from outside the box was blocked, Walker's deft cross from the right of the area found Sturridge, who glanced past Gordon from five yards.
Scotland nearly replied instantly as Griffiths' fierce shot deflected over the crossbar, before Grant Hanley headed over Robert Snodgrass' corner despite being totally unmarked eight yards out.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot and should have been level with two fine opportunities in the early stages.
First, James Forrest dragged the ball just wide from 12 yards after Griffiths had dummied Wallace's ball from the left, before an unmarked Snodgrass saw his close-range effort vitally blocked by John Stones.
They were made to pay for their missed chances just moments later, as Lallana guided another fine header into the bottom right corner from Rose's centre from the left, only England's second shot on target in the game.
England made it 3-0 on 61 minutes through Chelsea defender Cahill, who took advantage of some shoddy Scotland marking from a Rooney corner to direct a header past Gordon, whose touch wasn't enough to keep it out.
Sterling missed a sitter moments later, somehow knocking the ball over the open goal from three yards out after former team-mate Jordan Henderson had found him at the far post.
Ikechi Anya denied substitute Jamie Vardy from adding to England's lead with a last-ditch tackle late on, as England saw out the game to deal Scotland's World Cup qualification hopes a bitter blow.
