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European Championship | Qualifiers
Oct 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
EN

2-0

Walcott (45'), Sterling (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Player Ratings: England 2-0 Estonia

:Headline: Player Ratings: England 2-0 Estonia: ID:251692: from db_amp
Sports Mole reviews how the players fared at Wembley after England beat Estonia 2-0 to preserve their 100% record in Euro 2016 qualifying.

England laboured to a 2-0 win over Estonia to keep their 100% record in Euro 2016 qualifying intact ahead of the final Group E game.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring on the stroke of half time as the Three Lions finally crowbarred open a stubborn visiting defence at Wembley.

With four minutes left, Raheem Sterling completed the scoring following good work from Jamie Vardy as England stuttered their way to a hard-fought three points.

Here, Sports Mole determines the heroes from the villains on an otherwise dull night in London.



ENGLAND

Goal

Joe Hart: Quite literally did not have a shot to save. (6/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: The Liverpool right-back had precious little to do defensively, but his final ball at the other end of the field let him down more often than not tonight. (5/10)

Gary Cahill: Captained the Three Lions in the absence of Wayne Rooney, and did not put a foot wrong but he was never going tonight. (6/10)

Chris Smalling: Pulled off one fantastic clearance in the first half but had very little else to do in the 90 minutes by virtue of England's dominance. (7/10)

Ryan Bertrand: Replaced the stricken Luke Shaw in the England lineup and was solid in both halves, but could have done more when he went forward. (6/10)

Midfield

James Milner: Lukewarm overall for Milner, who started at the base of England's midfield and conceded possession in a cheap manner on a number of occasions. (5/10)

Ross Barkley: Much more involved than Lallana, with whom he started behind England's three-pronged attack, and produced a fine eye-of-a-needle ball to assist Walcott for the opener. Excellent overall. (8/10)

Adam Lallana: Superb first half-an-hour or so but the Liverpool playmaker slowly but surely lost his influence as the minutes ticked on. Subbed for Oxlade-Chamberlain on the 72-minute mark. (5/10)

Attack

Raheem Sterling: Probably should have been a lot better than he was, given that he was up against a Norwegian second-division player in Teniste, but he never got going. Added a second goal from the right flank, but it papered over an ordinary overall display. (5/10)

Theo Walcott: Would have been disappointed to start on the wing, but Walcott drifted in-field at the right moment to slot home the opener. Comfortably the best of England's three-pronged attack tonight. (7/10)

Harry Kane: Was totally negated by Estonia's defence throughout the 90 minutes but scuffed a straight-forward volley early in the second half. (4/10)

Substitutes

Jamie Vardy: Ran his socks off as per usual and his energy led a tiring Estonia conceding again when he set up Sterling in the closing minutes of normal time. (7/10)



ESTONIA

Goal

Mihkel Aksalu: The scoreline would have been much worse if not for Aksalu, who pulled off very decent saves in both halves to thwart the English. (7/10)

Defence

Taijo Teniste: A brilliant overall performance was marred when he was shrugged off the ball by Vardy in the build-up to England's second, but he dealt with Sterling with worrying ease, given that he plies his trade in the Norwegian second division. (6/10)

Ragnar Klavan: Tried to play Walcott offside for the opening goal and subsequently failed, but looked very decent apart from that error in judgement. (6/10)

Enar Jaager: Brilliant in both halves as he kept Kane on a short leash throughout the contest. (7/10)

Artur Pikk: Shackled Walcott well for the most part, but he lost the run of the Arsenal winger just before the break for what proved a key moment in the match. (6/10)

Midfield

Ken Kallaste: Did not shirk his defensive duties one bit as he tracked back brilliantly, but his play in England's half left a little to be desired on the rare occasion which Estonia attacked. (6/10)

Aleksandr Dmitrijev: Very little impact in Estonia's midfield and subbed on the 70-minute mark. (4/10)

Karol Mets: Certainly put himself about - perhaps too much and he was somewhat fortunate to stay on the field after a first-half lunge on Barkley. (5/10)

Sergi Zeniov: One of three players to score for Estonia in this campaign but a goal was never on the cards for him tonight as he failed to attack Clyne at right-back. (4/10)

Ats Purje: Hauled off with 20 minutes to go after having little to no effect in attack for Estonia. (4/10)

Attack

Konstantin Vassiljev: Spearheaded Estonia's attack to very little effect, though he did give Milner and Smalling a scare with a fantastic cross in the first half. Very little to note other than that. (5/10)

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