Despite having already qualified for next year’s European Under-21 Championships, England kept their foot on the gas pedal with a 3-1 victory over Andorra at Molineux.
Aidy Boothroyd’s charges came into the game with three wins and a draw to their name – with their only dropped points coming in October’s surprise 3-3 draw with Friday’s opponents – and the Young Lions took the opportunity to exact some revenge.
A dominant England took the lead after 27 minutes as Liverpool’s Curtis Jones fired home from close range following a cross from Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, but Andorra snatched a way back into the game shortly before the break when Conor Gallagher gave away a penalty which Christian Garcia tucked home. The effort was Andorra’s only shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
It didn’t take England long to get their lead back. Four minutes after the interval, Watford’s Ben Wilmot rose highest and snuck in front of the goalkeeper to head home from a Dwight McNeil corner.
Any hopes of another Andorran comeback were extinguished shortly after the hour mark after Sheffield United’s Rhian Brewster was hauled down in the penalty area. Hudson-Odoi stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty, capping off a fine individual performance with a much-deserved goal.
With the result now a formality, Boothroyd took the opportunity to hand out a couple of debuts to some of his new faces. Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who is also eligible to represent Germany, was introduced midway through the half, with Derby County left-back Lee Buchanan also earning his first cap late on.
Next up for England’s Young Lions is a meeting with Albania on Tuesday, with Boothroyd’s side overwhelming favourites to keep their good form going.