Harry Kane’s absence made little difference as England cruised to a 3-0 win over neighbours Wales at Wembley.
Bayern Munich striker Kane was reduced to the role of spectator due to injury, but England quickly put the result beyond doubt with a clinical first-half performance.
Morgan Rogers opened his England account in the third minute, with his Aston Villa colleague Ollie Watkins — leading the line in place of Kane — made it 2-0 eight minutes later.
Bukayo Saka’s spectacular long-range effort ended the game as a contest, though Wales were able to prevent the scoreline from becoming more emphatic, with their focus now on a crucial World Cup qualifier with Belgium on Monday. England travel to Latvia for their lone qualifier of the International break. Thomas Tuchel’s men will qualify for the World Cup if Serbia fail to beat Albania on Saturday.
England waste no time
England needed no second invitation to hit the front foot and immediately went close when Anthony Gordon fired across the face of goal.
Moments later, Rogers made no mistake, converting from close range after excellent work from Marc Guehi to keep the ball in play following a corner.
It was 2-0 when Watkins was given the routine task of tapping in from a yard out, with Guehi again providing the assist as he flicked on Rogers’ lofted ball to the far post.
Saka put the game beyond doubt in style when he cut in right from and curled an unerring finish into the top-left corner.
Declan Rice bent narrowly over the bar from a free-kick as England continued to pile on the pressure, though there were briefly worrying scenes after Watkins clattered into the post as he somehow failed to divert Gordon’s low cross into the net from point-blank range.
Wales shut up shop, Pickford makes England history
Wales were much improved defensively after the interval and would have pulled a goal back had Jordan Pickford not pulled off a fine save to deny David Brooks.
Chances were few and far between in the second half, though Gordon fired narrowly over late on after a solo run.
The drop-off in goalmouth action allowed Pickford to make history, as he became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in eight consecutive appearances for England.
In truth it was not a game that will live long in the memory, but it is one that Rogers will never forget.
“Right at the top,” Rogers told ITV of scoring his first England goal.
“It’s a proud moment to do it at home too in a home nation derby. A dream come true.”
