As regular England watchers, who like me have seen over 60 years of games before, will know that these sorts of matches come along at regular intervals.  Expected to win by a hatful of goals, confronted by several changes in the team and playing reserves or youngsters, and being met by a stubborn and determined opponent, who makes it very difficult to break them down.  We've seen it all so many times before.  This was one of those games, painful to watch at times, but in the end a comfortable victory to send the fans home 'happy'.

In fact, manager Gareth Southgate made eleven changes to the side that beat Hungary a few days previously, and in many ways this game followed a similar pattern to the game in Budapest.  A very slow start and a first-half devoid of positive football from England for long spells.  Patrick Bamford was making his debut and his first two contributions were fouls, although he did try to send Jesse Lingard through on goal, but the goalkeeper was out quickly to beat Lingard to the ball.

The first fifteen minutes were littered with silly fouls by both teams, as the Greek referee was rather quick on the whistle at times.  On 17 minutes a run to the bye-line saw Lingard pull the ball back to Bukayo Saka, and his shot was goalbound but for a deflection off a desperate defender.  The ref gave a goal-kick for that one, much to everyone's dismay.  But a minute later and England broke through.  Tyrone Mings won a tackle and Jude Bellingham showed neat footwork to find Saka.  His cross was blocked but the ball ran to Lingard who scuffed a shot home.  It was a good goal, but not a clean strike.

Three minutes later and Bamford sends Lingard away again, and this time he chipped the goalkeeper beautifully, only to turn and see the linesman's flag up for offside.  Lingard was the most lively of the England forwards and he was constantly a danger to the hard-working Andorra defence.  Jordan Henderson shot over in the next attack and then Lingard was caught offside again.  Bamford was pulled up for another foul and he was finding it hard to make an impact.  In truth he looked a little out of his depth.  To be fair the final pass into the Andorra box was poor and the Leeds star was feeding off scraps for much of the time.  He almost reached a Saka cross with a lunge, and on 35 minutes Conor Coady tried an overhead kick following a corner.  Two minutes later and Bellingham should have done better.  A lovely pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold was expertly brought under control, before cutting inside to shoot wide of the near post, when he could have perhaps laid it across goal.

More scrappy play from England before the break saw little chance of adding to the one goal, and the final action saw Alexander-Arnold have a free-kick on the edge of the box after the lively Saka was fouled.  The kick was awful however, flying over the bar, so 1-0 it was at half-time.

It seemed there was a little more urgency from England after the restart and two minutes in Bamford had a chance but lifted a half-volley over the bar.  Then, on 50 minutes, James, who had a poor first-half at right-back and switched with Alexander-Arnold to midfield in the second, suddenly cut inside to unleash a great shot which cannoned back off the crossbar.  That came right out of the blue!  Five minutes later, good play by Henderson as he crossed to Bamford, who headed the ball down for Lingard to fire over again.

England were starting to get a little frustrated by their inability to break down the Andorra defence, who, to be fair were working very hard.  When a long passing move ended with Kieran Trippier losing control, Southgate had seen enough and decided to change things.  He brought on Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount for Bamford, James and Bellingham, and immediately the ball started to move forward quicker.

Saka was brought down by Jordi Robio, who was one of six Andorran players to be booked.  Mings was the only England player to pick up a yellow card, and he will miss the next game as a result.

In this part of the game it was a tough watch for the fans, as England continued to go sideways and back more often than not with their passing.  However, Grealish had other ideas, and he combined with Mount to send the Chelsea player into the box.  A clumsy challenge by Christian Gonzalez gave the referee an easy decision to award a penalty.  Up stepped Kane, who drilled the ball home emphatically for his 40th England goal.

Funnily enough, after that goal there was a burst of pressure from the visitors, although I use the term loosely, as Sam Johnstone had very little to do in goal, and he must think keeping goal for England is as easy as it was when he was at Preston!!

England were now pushing forward more and on 78 minutes Lingard struck again.  Saka and Grealish were involved in the build up before  Lingard's shot to the far post was too good for Josep Moreira in goal.  Soon after Grealish put in a quick burst down the left, centred to Kane who just had to score.  He didn't, his sliced shot striking a post from about two yards out.  To save his acute embarrassment, the linesman put his flag up for offside.  Oh, lucky Harry!

England won a couple of corners, and from the second on 84 minutes, Alexander-Arnold took it short and quickly to Lingard, catching Andorra asleep.  Lingard's cross was headed in brilliantly by Saka, who not only deserved his goal, but scored it on his birthday.  The crowd were absolutely delighted, as were all the England fans watching, after his experience a few weeks earlier at the same end of Wembley.

In the remaining minutes Lingard almost had a hat-trick but for another desperate block on the line by a defender, and then Kane almost added a fifth only to be foiled by a fine save by Moreira.

So, another 4-0 win, and England totally in charge of the group table at the half-way stage of the qualifying rounds.  Some good individual displays from some of the youngest members of the squad, and Southgate will move on to the game in Poland with plenty of options for selection should he need them.
   

Source Notes