Following on from the fine win in Serbia, England began this match in the same vein and the match was won and lost after 20 minutes of frantic action. England were soon after the Welsh Dragon's jugular and after just three minutes they were ahead. The Arsenal corners have been a feature of the London side's play this season, so it was no surprise when the Gunners Declan Rice sent in a beauty to the far post. John Stones leapt, headed it down, and whilst the Welsh defenders dithered Marc Guehi cleverly gained possession and sent the ball into the path of Morgan Rogers and he side-footed home for 1-0.

Anthony Gordon was looking very lively down the left and he soon won another corner. The Welsh defenders looked totally perplexed at this blistering start by England and within eight minutes of the first goal, England went two up. Several attacks saw the ball criss-crossing the Welsh box without being properly cleared and finally a cross came in from the right, to the far post, and there was Ollie Watkins to bundle the ball home. The Villa man will never score an easier goal. The Welsh defence was in disarray and England were cock-a-hoop!

The pressure on Wales was huge in the first 15 minutes and they had no answer to the way England were attacking. Bukayo Saka saw a shot blocked away for another corner and then Rogers saw another effort saved. Wales had hardly advanced anywhere near the England goal and the pressure was still all at the other end. On 20 minutes more fine work by the lively Gordon saw him weave his way through the defence before finding Saka out on the right. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen next as he cut inside onto his left foot. The trademark left-footed curler into the far top corner leaving goalkeeper Karl Darlow clutching at thin air. What a goal that was and so good to see Saka back to his best again.

The pressure continued on the Welsh and Neco Williams was booked for a foul on Gordon as the frustration started to creep in. The free-kick was on the edge of the box and Rice curled in a shot which was just too high. Djed Spence then put a lovely through ball for Gordon to run onto, but, alas, Gordon's first touch was too heavy and ball went harmlessly wide of the goal. Jordan Pickford then also had a poor touch which almost led to trouble but he recovered to clear. It was noticeable how much England were winning the ball back after losing possession.

It should have been 4-0 on 40 minutes as another cross from the right again found Watkins at the far post looking a certain goalscorer, but this time his shot somehow went wide when it seemed easier to score. To make matters worse he crashed into a post and injured himself. That led to him not reappearing after the interval. Two minutes before half-time Harry Wilson finally had an effort on goal for Wales, well, actually it was a shot that flew well over the bar. That followed some loose defending by England and it was obvious that the only way Wales would score was if England gifted a goal to them.

After the break Marcus Rashford replaced Watkins and an early cross from the substitute flew dangerously across goal without the necessary touch coming from an England player. On 51 minutes Rogers so nearly added a fourth goal. Following a corner and a good pass he was clear on the angle approaching the goal. He fired in a fierce shot but the ball crashed against the crossbar and was cleared. Five minutes later, Wales had a clear chance as David Brooks, who was left unmarked at the far post, fired in a shot only for Pickford to protect his goal by deflecting the ball with his outstretched left foot. He was determined to keep his clean sheet record intact.

A raft of four substitutes for Wales on 64 minutes was followed by another raft of four subs from England, whilst in between Saka sent in a great cross that was cleared from danger, and then the Arsenal player so nearly repeated his wonder goal from earlier, but this time his shot was blocked. The substitutions suited Wales more than England as the rhythm went from the home side's play a little, whilst Wales were encouraged into better action. On 72 minutes Pickford made the save of the match from a header by Chris Mepham, with the keeper still preserving that long clean sheet run. Mark Harris then had a chance with a header, but the effort flew over the bar. The Welsh fans were buoyant with all this improved play, but they tended to forget the fact they were already 3-0 down. As always though, their support for their team was unswerving. Meanwhile, Pickford let rip at his defenders for allowing Wales to make those recent chances, and it has to be said that England became very disjointed in the last quarter of the match, mainly due to all the substitutions.

The only one of the England subs to make a difference was Jarrod Bowen who continually ran at the Welsh defence in lively fashion. The other four substitutions made by Thomas Tuchal were pretty anonymous though. There was no doubt England took their foot off the pedal in that last quarter, and that is something the Coach will want to address.

All in all though, it was another convincing win for the Three Lions and we now move on to the World Cup match in Latvia which can seal our qualification if we win. Lots of good performances from England but no doubt who my man of the match was, Marc Guehi was outstanding and not only assisted with two of the goals scored, but also defended without fault, he certainly is some player.
         

Source Notes