Match Summary

England Team

Lithuania Team

England remain well in control of their World Cup Group with this comfortable win over Lithuania. The visitors came with a game plan to try and frustrate England and maybe catch them on a breakaway, but England were too good for them and, if truth be told, the home side should have won by a wider margin.

It took England nearly 15 minutes to create an opening, but all the possession was with them as Lithuania brought everyone behind the ball.  The probing had to be patient as England sought gaps, but it all looked a little 'Arsenal like', as there was no end product and the ball was rarely played into the visitors penalty area.  The main attacking threat for England was coming from Kyle Walker and on a couple of occasions he burst through only for the final pass to let him down.  Adam Lallana was also prominent, and he so nearly found Walker with one pass before having a go himself, the deflected shot being easily saved.  On 17 minutes Walker produced a fine cross but nobody could get on the end of it.

Although it was one-way traffic the ball was not being put into the box quickly enough, and sometimes, because it was so easy for England, some lackadaisical play annoyed the crowd.  Misplaced and careless passes were not finding their targets and that made it easy for Lithuania to defend.  On 21 minutes though, England fashioned a proper chance at last.  Walker was again the provider as he found the recalled Jermaine Defoe, and the striker, with almost his first touch, was able to get a shot away.  Credit the goalkeeper though as Ernestas Setkus was down quickly to block the shot with his feet.  The crowd were lifted by that and a minute later England finally took the lead.

This time Raheem Sterling broke down the left before cutting the ball back from the bye-line to the ever-ready Defoe, who shot home with aplomb from six yards out.  What a comeback for the Sunderland striker, making his first start for four years, but showing just how deadly he is in front of goal when given a sniff of a chance.  It was his 20th goal for his country.

The game now opened up a little and Lithuania had their first attack of note when Fedor Cernych scuffed a shot wide from a promising position.  A minute later and Eric Dier found Defoe again and the striker had only one thing on his mind as he fired yet another shot at goal.  This time though his fierce shot was dragged wide of the left-hand post.  The Lithuanians had certainly done their homework on England as they posted a man on Dele Alli throughout the game and the Spurs man was not as effective as he usually is, being closed down atery opportunity.  Although only a half-hour had elapsed the visitors were making a meal of the 'injuries' they received, dragging the time out in an effort to slow the game down.

The rest of the half was more of the same, with England's play going forward not nearly quick enough to ruffle the disciplined defending they faced, and few other chances were created.  In fact, the nearest we came to another goal came after Joe Hart's poor clearance was lobbed back and Nerijus Valskis headed over the keeper, only for John Stones to race back and clear off the goalline.  Valskis was blatantly offside, but there was no flag, so it could have been a gift for the visitors.  As it was the half ended at 1-0 to England and they were well worth their lead.

Within two minutes of the restart Egidijus Vaitkunas had been booked for Lithuania after he took out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Sterling missed a sitter for England.  Ryan Bertrand's fine cross from the left found Sterling a yard from goal, but somehow the Manchester City winger got his feet in a tangle and completely fluffed his attempt at goal.  Over the next ten minutes, Alli headed wide from another Walker cross, Hart had to make his first save, from a shot by Vykintas Slivka, and Oxlade-Chamberlain forced a flying full-length save from Setkus.

The substitutions began on 53 minutes and Lithuania were playing well at times, although it must be said England were still totally in control.  Just before the hour manager Gareth Southgate brought on Jamie Vardy for Defoe, and Marcus Rashford for Sterling in an effort to inject a little more pace going forward.  It almost worked immediately as Rashford burst forward and so nearly set up Lallana.  Finally, in the 66th minute the result was settled by a second England goal.

Brilliant one-touch play from Walker and Lallana set up Vardy and the substitute showed all his recent sharpness by coolly tucking the ball past Setkus.  It was a well worked and well taken goal and no more than England deserved.  The rest of the match was played out in the same manner, with England pushing forward at every opportunity and Lithuania defending stoutly.

Not much happened in that last quarter, but England had completed the task and it was very much job done.  Several of the players can be pleased with their own performances with Michael Keane again looking the part at the back, and sharing a good partnership with Stones.  Both full-backs attacked willingly but the midfield was a little too casual at times and needed to show a bit more urgency.  But these games are difficult, when you know you should win, and unfortunately the days of eight and nine goal victories are long gone.  Up front Defoe did his job brilliantly and the two subs who came on certainly livened up the proceedings.  The important thing was that England safely bagged the three points and now we move on to the next instalment of our World Cup campaign in June.

Bring on the Scots!
 

TheFA.com BBC Sport LFF.com

Mike Payne - football historian and contributor