Talk about a game of two halves! In the first-half I struggled to find anything to write about, but in the second-half I couldn't stop writing. This was just the performance to bring Lee Carsley's short tenure as interim England coach to the close that he deserved as England, with some exciting new talent on show, finally tore the Republic of Ireland team apart.

In the early minutes England had lots of possession but could not find a way round the packed Irish defence. The Irish meanwhile, were prepared to sit back, frustrate England, and catch them with a lightening breakaway. England did win several corners and from one early kick Kyle Walker did well to get above the defenders but his header went over the bar. England continued to press and when Jude Bellingham set up Anthony Gordon a defender blocked the shot off for another corner. Clear chances were few and far between despite England's dominance, but Walker did try another header that went wide this time. It seemed that England were panicking a little and maybe the Irish tactics were frustrating them.

Harry Kane was close to a fine pass into the box by the impressive Lewis Hall, and then Hall tried again only for a defender to clear the danger. More England corners were forthcoming and both Bellingham and the lively Noni Madueka went close. But in the main the half was contentment for Ireland, who continued to thwart England at every opportunity. From there attacking capabilities though, Jordan Pickford was untroubled and when the Irish cleared the pressure there was no-one upfield to receive the ball. This pattern continued until the break with neither side creating a chance worth recording. The England manager would have stressed the need for patience at the interval, but also there needed to be a little more urgency from his players.

Just six minutes into the second-half, the breakthrough finally arrived and it was a classy pass that set up the chance. Kane spotted Bellingham's run into the box and with a sublime pass he found the Real Madrid star. Bellingham checked inside the defender Liam Scales only to be clearly tripped in the box. Penalty! And to compound the Republic's chagrin, Scales, who had already been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow card followed by a red from the Belgian referee. Kane took the spot-kick and promptly fired home his 69th goal for his country. And that really did change the complexion of this match.

Suddenly gaps appeared everywhere along the Irish defensive line, and just two minutes later, and another impressive debutant in Valentino Livramento, sped down the right before crossing to the middle where a couple of deflections saw the ball drop to Gordon who met the ball on the volley to fire home an excellent first goal for his country. And that was to prove the theme for the rest of the match because just six more minutes had passed when a corner by Madueke was flicked on by Marc Guehi, and there was Conor Gallagher to bundle the ball home at the far post for his first England goal too.

That left the shell-shocked Irish team absolutely down and out and there was to be no comeback. It was time for several substitutions, from both sides, and for England that included another new cap in Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the Southampton player. All credit to Lee Carsley for giving these young players their start in International life, and my goodness they did reward their manager's trust with some terrific football. If they play their cards right, and are supported by the incoming Thomas Tuchel, then the future for the players, and more importantly, the future of the England team will be in good hands for many years to come.

Still the attacks kept coming forcing some desperate defending by the Irish. Several near misses came along and when Livramento and Madueka combined down the right the final cross was just asking to be touched in but somehow beleaguered goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher scrambled the ball away. England now looked like scoring with every attack, but at the back there was some very cool defending as well from the hosts and with Gallagher and Curtis Jones impressive in the midfield, it was a superb second-half from England.

On 75 minutes Gallagher, Gordon and Madueke were replaced by Morgan Rogers, Dominic Solanke and Jarrod Bowen, but unfortunately for the Ireland side, those changes were to have an immediate effect. A wonderful free-kick routine enabled Bellingham to tee up Bowen and with his very first touch he rammed home a left-foot drive leaving Kelleher helpless. The joy on Bowen's face as he too, had finally scored his first England goal was great to see.

It took until the 78th minute for the Irish to have a shot at goal and Pickford easily saved that. Meanwhile Solanke also had a fine chance to score but that was squandered and then on 79 minutes England added a fifth goal, and yet again it was a new name on the England scoresheet. A beautifully flighted cross from Bellingham, found Harwood-Bellis rising in the middle to head a terrific goal to make his evening even more memorable. So, it was now 5-0, and who would have thought that at half-time?

In the remaining minutes Bellingham saw a shot blocked, Kane then had a shot blocked by Kelleher's foot, and then the goalkeeper did well to keep out another Bowen effort. The goalkeeper must have felt under siege after that opening penalty goal. And although that crucial decision was probably the turning point in the match, what England did next was to show a ruthless efficiency with their finishing and their overall attacking football. It was good to watch.

To finish, I must confess that I had never heard of Hall, Livramento, and Harwood-Bellis, before these last two England games, but Carsley knew them well, and he had full trust in each of them, and my goodness we have certainly heard of those players now. Terrific finds, each and every one of the young players given their opportunity in these International matches and what a future they could all now have.
       

Source Notes