ENGLAND 2, ESTONIA 0
It was the night that Wayne Rooney was honoured for becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Just a pity the Manchester United striker, who netted his 50th goal for England last month against Switzerland, was injured and unable to appear in the latest Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley.
Rooney was at the game, though, to receive a golden boot to mark his goalscoring exploits from 1966 World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton who record he beat, as already qualified England made it nine straight victories in group E.
How English missed their talisman as they toiled to overcome a resolute and determined Estonia side after a less-than-memorable display in which the only spark came from deserved man-of-the-match Ross Barkley and occasional flashes from Theo Walcott.
But Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, despite him scoring, were largely anonymous as England lacked a ruthless cutting edge.
Manager Roy Hodgson pointed out the major positive was that achieving nine wins out of nine in the group means England are seeded in the finals.
He added he knew it would be a difficult game as Estonia are an improving and emerging nation that is getting better with each qualifying campaign it takes part in.
Hodgson added: “I thought we were unlucky not to score more goals, but it was a deserved victory.
“It is not often I contest man-of-the-match, but one or two others also deserved an honourable mention.”
In the absence of Rooney, Tottenham’s Kane was handed a starting spot up front with Sterling and Walcott alongside him in a three-pronged attack.
And at left-back there was a rare start for former Oldham Athletic loanee Ryan Bertrand as Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw were both ruled out through injury.
Chelsea’s Gary Cahill was handed the captain’s armband as he skippered the side owing to Rooney being missing.
Though on paper it looked a banker win for England, the stats showed that it could potentially be a tricky side.
England only won 1-0 in Estonia who had conceded only six goals in their eight qualifiers, though they had also scored a mere four times, even though they had recorded three victories.
Walcott stung the palms of Estonia keeper Mihkel Aksalu with an early effort as England made a bright start.
Ross Barkley also forced a diving save from the keeper, but it soon became obvious that it would be no goal fest.
Lallana had a shot deflected well over while Chris Smalling headed harmlessly wide, but they were only half chances.
Estonia made a couple of dangerous forward breaks after half an hour, the first time they had threatened, though they came to nothing.
James Milner and Walcott both twice shot either wide or over as it was turning out to be a disappointing night and a flat performance with qualification for the finals in France assured.
Then just as a dreary opening period was drawing to a close, England made the breakthrough with barely 30 seconds left.
Barkley threaded a pass through the eye of a needle to Walcott who timed his run to perfection before slotting a shot low to the left of keeper Aksalu from seven yards out, his eighth goal for England.
England could have scored a second goal not long after the restart when the impressive Aksalu made a double save to deny Lallana and Kane.
Barkley made a terrific weaving run, but failed to finish in style as he fired wide with what could have been a glorious goal.
England made their first change with 17 minutes left when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Lallana.
Barkley produced fine footwork again to create another opening for himself as he forced a decent save from Aksalu.
The luckless Sterling cut in from the left before shooting wide, a moment which epitomised his night up to that point.
Walcott was replaced with Jamie Vardy seven minutes from the end as England looked for a second goal to seal victory.
Vardy had been on for less than two minutes when he provided the assist, squaring the ball from the left, for Sterling to lift high into the net from six yards for his second England goal.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli was introduced with two minutes left for his England debut as he took over from Barkley.