England took a giant stride towards qualification for Euro 2012 here Tuesday after an Ashley Young goal handed them a 1-0 win over Wales to leave them six points clear at the top of Group G.
Manchester United star Young rifled in a low cross from Stewart Downing on 35 minutes to secure all three points for England, who now need only a point from their final match against Montenegro next month to clinch the group.
Wales squandered a golden opportunity to secure what would have been a scarcely-deserved point when substitute Robert Earnshaw missed an open goal from five yards out 15 minutes from time.
Earnshaw's miss left Wales manager Gary Speed burying his head in his hands but the visiting coach could have few complaints with his team's defeat after they failed to seriously test England for long periods.
England manager Fabio Capello had recalled Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to his starting line-up after dropping him for last Friday's 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in Sofia.
Capello also rested Theo Walcott as a precaution, replacing the Arsenal winger with Manchester City's James Milner.
England enjoyed by far the better of the first half, and might have taken the lead after only eight minutes only for captain John Terry to flash a close-range header wide of the post after an inviting corner from Young.
With Wales star Gareth Bale deployed to the right wing, all too often the visitors were left exposed down the opposite flank, where Liverpool's Downing was a constant menace.
Downing had fired a warning shot on 17 minutes when he ghosted past fullback Neil Taylor only to overhit his cross.
Moments later Downing was on the prowl again, gliding into space but just failing to pick out Wayne Rooney with his centre.
At the other end England goalkeeper Joe Hart was a virtual spectator for most of the first half, although Bale reminded the home side of his latent threat when he beat Milner to draw a booking from the England midfielder.
Wales' best moment of the opening half came when defender Chris Gunter went on a rare gallop upfield on 33 minutes only to smash a wild shot 20 yards wide.
Two minutes later England were in front, and again Downing was at the heart of the action, embarrassing Joe Ledley and racing to the byline before crossing for Young who lashed home from close range.
England might have had another five minutes later when Young curled in a cross which Rooney just failed to get his head to.
England always looked the likliest to score after the restart, their best chance coming when Lampard scooped his shot over the bar after a powerful surge into the box by Gareth Barry.
But they almost paid the price for failing to add to their tally 15 minutes from time only for Earnshaw to suffer a nightmare miss.
A free-kick from Wales captain Aaron Ramsey picked out Darcy Blake on the edge of the six-yard box who got past Barry and squared to an unmarked Earnshaw. With the goal gaping however, the Cardiff striker shot over.
Source: AFP
